Problem here is that “Open source platform” is a meaningless term. Open Source is a type of license that regulates how to redistribute source code. None of those principles apply to services and platforms, which are about data and control. If the Uber app would be Open Source, but still had to connect to the Uber server and play by its rules, nothing would change. Meanwhile if it played by its own rules, what rules would that be? There are no established rules for an “open” service platform, especially not when it comes to platform that have review and reputation systems build in.
Simply put, it’s really not clear how you can be “open” yet at the same time provide any level of protection against fraud and abuse.
shasta@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Doesn’t sound profitable to me
Maalus@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Ah yes, because everything in life is about profit for yourself, instead of changing other people’s lives by enabling them to work.
DudeDudenson@lemmings.world 11 months ago
Ok why don’t you fund it yourself then
Maalus@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Because I am funding another FOSS project that is saving lives
vasametropolis@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Profitable for who? The one hosting it foots the bill. If it was federated, all drivers could host their own instance like WordPress and a single app would connect to all instances and all drivers.
Agencies could start up to manage the tech for a negotiable fee if the drivers in the area didn’t want to bother with the tech.
Whether or not it could be profitable entirely depends on the hosting and delivery model. One guy could host the tech stack and charge maintenance fees and be in the green.
KevonLooney@lemm.ee 11 months ago
You can’t trust tiny random “self-hosted” Uber services. They could use any random drivers with criminal records, or even without drivers licenses. They could have terrible cars and charge extra fees. You would never be able to trust the driver ratings. They could tell you the car will arrive in 5 minutes for 30 minutes.
These are all the problems people had with small taxi companies. Why would you replicate that in an app?
vasametropolis@lemmy.world 11 months ago
You wouldn’t - the software would have to hook into a background check service. This can absolutely be done.