Should programmers do Pro Bono work? where are the code public defenders?

Question

How many projects are people doing based on the Bro Bono publico ideals versus working for the highest wage or potential for a cash-in-buy-out payday?

For years lawyers have been called out for excessive gathering of wealth from high bill rates and huge settlement deals, hiring out their knowledge and skills to the highest bidders. People call for them to do more for free, use the laws and their time to defend or further some cause thats in the public's best interest.

Is professional software development that different? So many bright people and so much knowledge of complex systems. Do you think that there is enough of a "Pro Bono" movement to solve the social and public problems in the industry right now? If so what are the examples to point to? OLPC?

NOTE: Saying that open source software is the same as pro bono misses the point completely. I was looking for specific projects with a social context, not just group-sourcing for free software. Just because your not making anyone pay for your software does not mean its doing anyone any good.

I'm not calling out manual enforcement of pro bono work for programmers, really just want some objective opinions and concrete examples of social-minded software/tech development projects like the One Laptop Per Child project. I'm sure open source would be a natural tie-in for some.

Answer 1

Of course there's a Pro Bono software movement. It's called Open Source.

Answer 2

We have open source projects, that many contribute to for free, and anyone can use. It's too bad there aren't "open source" law firms ;)

Answer 3

Sure. Along with accountants, blacksmiths, teachers, plumbers, and bookies.

If you want to do some pro bono work,go ahead. I've done it every so often.

Answer 4

Until there is a consistent governing body (like the Bar), there won't be induced pro bono programming.

Answer 5

Check out Agile Philanthropy at www.codegreenlabs.com if you are interesting in contributing some code on a pro bono basis. I participated in Live Aid at Agile 2008 -- fun and I was able to learn something, too. The link to the Mano a Mano project, parts of which were developed at Live Aid, looks to be broken; you can find it here.

Answer 6

A couple concrete examples:

• Taproot Foundation - a fairly large and high-profile pro bono firm that accepts help from software developers as well as other professionals.
• The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge - The Nerdery matches volunteer development teams to non-profits and challenges them to develop a complete website in 24 hours (in one sitting).