--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shareware tends to combine the worst of…" description: "\"Shareware tends to combine the worst of commercial software with the worst of free software.\" — Linus Torvalds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/linus-torvalds-1512_programming_shareware-tends-to-combine-the-worst-of_3056279.jpg" --- # Shareware tends to combine the worst of commercial… ![“Shareware tends to combine the worst of commercial software with the worst of free software.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/linus-torvalds-1512_programming_shareware-tends-to-combine-the-worst-of_3056279.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/linus-torvalds-1512_programming_shareware-tends-to-combine-the-worst-of_3056279.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/linus-torvalds-1512_programming_shareware-tends-to-combine-the-worst-of_3056279.jpg) > “Shareware tends to combine the worst of commercial software with the worst of free software.” [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shareware often combines the worst aspects of commercial and free software. **In simple terms:** Shareware can be low quality. Key Takeaway Demand higher standards for software. Themes software quality open source commercial free software critique Mood critical analytical Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - software selection - product development - user education - policy making Key Concepts software engineering user experience licensing Questions to Reflect On - What makes software trustworthy? - How can open source improve shareware? A Different Perspective Not all shareware is bad. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commercial Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commercial-software-708501/) [Free Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-software-922376/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Shareware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shareware-290845/) [Shareware Tends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shareware-tends-5106805/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Software Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software-worst-5106806/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) ## Related quotes > [I think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up-with-the/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [There are "extremists" in the free software world, but that's one major reason why I don't call what I do "free software" any more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-are-extremists-in-the-free-software-world-but-that-s-one-major/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [When it comes to software, I much prefer free software, because I have very seldom seen a program that has worked well enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/when-it-comes-to-software-i-much-prefer-free-software-because-i-have/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Limit use of shareware and public domain software to systems without fixed disks. If you do use them on fixed disks, allocate separate subdirectories...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/limit-use-of-shareware-and-public-domain-software-to-systems-without/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [I've never regretted not making Linux shareware: I really don't like the pay for use binary shareware programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-ve-never-regretted-not-making-linux-shareware-i-really-don-t-like/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I obviously think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-obviously-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I got bitten by the free software bug in February of 1998 around the time of the Mozilla announcement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hertzfeld/i-got-bitten-by-the-free-software-bug-in-february-of-1998-around-the/) [Andy Hertzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hertzfeld/) > [The only people who have anything to fear from free software are those whose products are worth even less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-emery/the-only-people-who-have-anything-to-fear-from-free-software-are/) [David F. Emery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-emery/) > [Open source is a development methodology; free software is a social movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/open-source-is-a-development-methodology-free-software-is-a-social/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [The idea of free software is that users of computing deserve freedom. They deserve in particular to have control over their computing. And proprietary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/the-idea-of-free-software-is-that-users-of-computing-deserve-freedom/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [If in my lifetime the problem of non-free software is solved, I could perhaps relax and write software again. 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It's the right way to do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-fundamentally-open-source-does-tend-to-be-more-stable/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I used to be interested in Windows NT, but the more I see it, the more it looks like traditional Windows with a stabler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-used-to-be-interested-in-windows-nt-but-the-more-i-see-it-the-more/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up-with-the/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Programmers are in the enviable position of not only getting to do what they want to, but because the end result is so important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/programmers-are-in-the-enviable-position-of-not-only-getting-to-do/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The NIH syndrome (Not Invented Here) is a disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-nih-syndrome-not-invented-here-is-a-disease/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The correct form factor for a laptop is obviously 12" and 2 lbs, and I don't understand why everybody gets that wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-correct-form-factor-for-a-laptop-is-obviously-12-and-2-lbs-and-i/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Hmmm, completely a-religious - atheist. 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