The Rise of the App Store: Where Does Open Source Fit?

From the consumer point of view, Apple’s App Store is a really convenient way to acquire and manage software. Not only does it greatly simplify buying applications, but the App Store remembers what you’ve purchased and allows you to transfer all of the software to new devices. The concept has spread considerably, and is changing the way that many people think about getting software. Unfortunately, it also poses a considerable challenge for developers, projects, and companies that want to utilize reciprocal free software licenses.