--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Open source can propagate to fill all the…" description: "\"Open source can propagate to fill all the nooks and crannies that people want it to fill.\" — Mitch Kapor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/mitch-kapor-7363_fill_open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-th_1982353.jpg" --- # Open source can propagate to fill all the nooks and… ![“Open source can propagate to fill all the nooks and crannies that people want it to fill.” quote by Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/mitch-kapor-7363_fill_open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-th_1982353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/mitch-kapor-7363_fill_open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-th_1982353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/mitch-kapor-7363_fill_open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-th_1982353.jpg) > “Open source can propagate to fill all the nooks and crannies that people want it to fill.” [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Open source spreads wherever people desire its use, filling every niche. **In simple terms:** Open source fills every niche people want Key Takeaway Encourage open collaboration. Themes innovation collaboration technology Mood optimistic pragmatic Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - software development - community projects - education - government policy Key Concepts Open source network effects Questions to Reflect On - How can we sustain open projects? - What niches benefit most? A Different Perspective Open source may lack funding for maintenance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Open source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-source/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [It is not enough to discover and prove a useful truth previously unknown, but that it is necessary also to be able to propagate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/it-is-not-enough-to-discover-and-prove-a-useful-truth-previously/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [The accomplishment of open source is that it is the back end of the web, the invisible part, the part that you don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/the-accomplishment-of-open-source-is-that-it-is-the-back-end-of-the/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [The drive to propagate our race has also propagated a lot of other things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-drive-to-propagate-our-race-has-also-propagated-a-lot-of-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't talk about it. The rose doesn't have to propagate its perfume. It just gives it forth, and people are drawn to it. Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/don-t-talk-about-it-the-rose-doesn-t-have-to-propagate-its-perfume-it/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The main languages out of which web applications are built - whether it's Perl or Python or PHP or any of the other languages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/the-main-languages-out-of-which-web-applications-are-built-whether-it/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Religion is like a virus that affects the behaviour of its host in such a way as to propagate itself further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-pritchard/religion-is-like-a-virus-that-affects-the-behaviour-of-its-host-in/) Jack Pritchard > [We should propagate the values of vegetarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morarji-desai/we-should-propagate-the-values-of-vegetarianism/) [Morarji Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morarji-desai/) > [Contemplation is necessary to generate an object, but action must propagate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/contemplation-is-necessary-to-generate-an-object-but-action-must/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Knowledge always desires increase, it is like fire, which must first be kindled by some external agent, but which will afterwards propagate itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/knowledge-always-desires-increase-it-is-like-fire-which-must-first-be/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I wanted to build something that was a system - that was mechanical and would propagate itself like a virus. I needed a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-birch/i-wanted-to-build-something-that-was-a-system-that-was-mechanical-and/) [Michael Birch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-birch/) > [“Chaos doesn't need permission to propagate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-mercer/chaos-doesn-t-need-permission-to-propagate/) [Aldous Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-mercer/) > [“Quite simply, plants don’t want to be eaten—and who can blame them? Like any living thing, their instinct is to propagate the next generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-r-gundry/quite-simply-plants-don-t-want-to-be-eaten-and-who-can-blame-them/) [Steven R. Gundry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-r-gundry/) > [Empowerment of individuals is a key part of what makes open source work, since in the end, innovations tend to come from small groups,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/empowerment-of-individuals-is-a-key-part-of-what-makes-open-source/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [Let me be clear - Microsoft has no beef with open source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mundie/let-me-be-clear-microsoft-has-no-beef-with-open-source/) [Craig Mundie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mundie/) > [In open source, you really have to be near the watershed to have an impact on the source code. Customers want to be near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fenton/in-open-source-you-really-have-to-be-near-the-watershed-to-have-an/) [Peter Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-fenton/) ## More by Mitch Kapor > [Velano Vascular has developed a simple, game-changing innovation that will improve the way medicine has been practiced for decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/velano-vascular-has-developed-a-simple-game-changing-innovation-that/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [The Internet, the network of networks, is growing at an exponential pace. It's growing so fast, in fact, nobody really knows how many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/the-internet-the-network-of-networks-is-growing-at-an-exponential/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [If only I'd stayed on the West Coast, I might have made something of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/if-only-i-d-stayed-on-the-west-coast-i-might-have-made-something-of/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'd always wanted to live in San Francisco, and my circumstances never permitted it. I'm so happy I made the move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-d-always-wanted-to-live-in-san-francisco-and-my-circumstances-never/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [When regulations restricting competition are relaxed, nobody's market share is protected. If telephone companies can offer video programming, cable revenue will surely drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/when-regulations-restricting-competition-are-relaxed-nobody-s-market/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Fundly is at the dynamic intersection of high-growth technology startups, social entrepreneurship, and the exploding world of social media. Kapor Capital is proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/fundly-is-at-the-dynamic-intersection-of-high-growth-technology/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [In my case, having knocked around at different jobs helped me get a sense of what the world is actually like and also helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/in-my-case-having-knocked-around-at-different-jobs-helped-me-get-a/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'm like George Lucas, bringing together a creative team that will come up with a unique, well-crafted product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-m-like-george-lucas-bringing-together-a-creative-team-that-will/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [You can't be in the tech community... without realizing there's a big shortage of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/you-can-t-be-in-the-tech-community-without-realizing-there-s-a-big/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Everyone has a subconscious and automatic preference of this over that. Once you're aware of that, you can take steps to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/everyone-has-a-subconscious-and-automatic-preference-of-this-over/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [If information wants to be free, then that's true everywhere, not just in information technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/if-information-wants-to-be-free-then-that-s-true-everywhere-not-just/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I soon realized that the best thing I could do for the profession of human services was to get out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-soon-realized-that-the-best-thing-i-could-do-for-the-profession-of/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [Diversifying our tech talent pool is an imperative for the tech sector. More diverse engineers and entrepreneurs will bring about a new type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/diversifying-our-tech-talent-pool-is-an-imperative-for-the-tech/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [StumbleUpon has humanized the Web and mastered a way for people to discover online content by incorporating an individual's personal preferences and recommendations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/stumbleupon-has-humanized-the-web-and-mastered-a-way-for-people-to/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I'm fascinated by management and organizations: how organizations get things done and how successful organizations are built and maintained, how they evolve as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/i-m-fascinated-by-management-and-organizations-how-organizations-get/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) [Explore all 92 Mitch Kapor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) ## More Fill quotes > [At the outset, my notion of being a writer was that you would have moments of inspiration and moments of frustration, when you'd crumple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rachman/at-the-outset-my-notion-of-being-a-writer-was-that-you-would-have/) [Tom Rachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rachman/) > [Preachers prepare with this fear: 'Am I going to be able to fill the time?' The audience never worries about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/preachers-prepare-with-this-fear-am-i-going-to-be-able-to-fill-the/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [It's silly to call me the new Ed Sheeran. He can fill stadiums as a solo artist, but I'm not like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bay/it-s-silly-to-call-me-the-new-ed-sheeran-he-can-fill-stadiums-as-a/) [James Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bay/) > [My father was truly a great man. I remember one day putting my feet in my father's shoes. I was amazed at the size.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/my-father-was-truly-a-great-man-i-remember-one-day-putting-my-feet-in/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Fill your pages with details. Work hard to get the right word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-littell/fill-your-pages-with-details-work-hard-to-get-the-right-word/) [Robert Littell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-littell/) > [You can't play enough golf or do any of those other things that fill that kind of excitement that coaching gave me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/you-can-t-play-enough-golf-or-do-any-of-those-other-things-that-fill/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [With the film around for 25 years and the show being around even longer - still running and continuing to fill house all around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-brien/with-the-film-around-for-25-years-and-the-show-being-around-even/) [Richard O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-brien/) > [I need my fill of Indian home cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-ahluwalia/i-need-my-fill-of-indian-home-cooking/) [Waris Ahluwalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-ahluwalia/) > [I've come up in the scripted world, and I have wished there were more time slots for us to tell compelling scripted stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-macchio/i-ve-come-up-in-the-scripted-world-and-i-have-wished-there-were-more/) [Ralph Macchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-macchio/) > [The kinds of roles dogs fill can be hard to come by in human relationships. We touch the dog or the pet at whim.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/the-kinds-of-roles-dogs-fill-can-be-hard-to-come-by-in-human/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [A book of quotations is one which is filled with Gods wisdom for a happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-book-of-quotations-is-one-which-is-filled-with-gods-wisdom-for-a/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [When I was an impoverished graduate student, I would sometimes spend $20 or $30 on a T-shirt or accessory I didn't need or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/when-i-was-an-impoverished-graduate-student-i-would-sometimes-spend/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Get me to a stadium, get me to Anfield and we will fill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-pimblett/get-me-to-a-stadium-get-me-to-anfield-and-we-will-fill-it/) [Paddy Pimblett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-pimblett/) > [It's not going to fill in the potholes. It's not going to put a roof over people's heads. What it does is it helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-squyres/it-s-not-going-to-fill-in-the-potholes-it-s-not-going-to-put-a-roof/) [Steven Squyres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-squyres/) Browse all 184 Fill quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Open source can propagate to fill all the nooks and crannies that people want it to fill.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitch Kapor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-the-nooks-and-crannies-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fill" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-the-nooks-and-crannies-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/mitch-kapor-7363_fill_open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-th_1982353.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/mitch-kapor-7363_fill_open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-th_1982353.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/mitch-kapor-7363_fill_open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-th_1982353.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Open source can propagate to fill all the nooks and crannies that people want it to fill.” — Mitch Kapor", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mitch Kapor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Open source can propagate to fill...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-the-nooks-and-crannies-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/open-source-can-propagate-to-fill-all-the-nooks-and-crannies-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```