I think this thread nicely illustrates why tabs should be used for indentation. You want 2, 4, 8 character indentation, fine. You want half inch indentation, fine. You want 2½ character indentation, %#*$ you, but sure. No one has to choose what is the "right" amount, everyone's editor will display it how they want.

You could look for a college intern. 35k for an internship with college credit is pretty good. That might not help long term but the way you describe the job I don't think anyone is going to stay long term.

I think you are conflating the idea of "free" software with "open source" software. There is a big difference between "open source" and "free". Many companies are moving toward a service contract model, which I believe is the right way to go. Off the top of my head I can think of Canonical(Ubuntu), MongoDB, Meteor. All of these companies have FOSS (Free Open Source Software) but they sell contracts to businesses that need them to keep maintaining the software. Additionally, software can be "open source" but not "free". I don't think "open source" software has anything to do with consumers being the product. You could use that argument for "free" software on the other hand, like Facebook and Google (neither of which is "open source")

Brent Jenkins wrote:

The differences in the levels of malware apps between the stores indicates that they're potentially doing something right.

It doesn't seem to be working very well. Don’t Be Fooled: The Mac App Store Is Full of Scams[^]

agreed. I am in the middle of rewriting an old application that was done the "wrong" way and it is most definitely not inexpensive for the people that are paying me. That said, I still believe "go for it" is the correct advice. For my employer it probably would've cost more to not have this application written. I deal with this fear every day but you just have to remember all software will become legacy eventually.[^]