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Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

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Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#121

Post by antaviana »

simplehuman wrote: post #114
antaviana wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We used to have a freeware product that a few years after became a commercial product sold as a subscription. When it was a freeware product, several people wanted to donate but we never accepted any donation, just to avoid the feeling of getting paid too low. Also I guess we were a bit equalitarian: we wanted that either nobody paid or that everybody paid.

How did your existing customers react to it (switch bait?)

In general quite well. It is a B2B product and being able to pay gives them some assurance that there will be someone behind. The freeware version continued to exist, and the transition to actually pay was long (free beta for the subscription lasted 4 months). We also did a heavily discounted launch promotion so that the transition from nothing to something was a lot smoother for existing users. Here is the announcement we did: http://www.apsic.com/blog/?p=25

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#122

Post by jashmenn »

nolanl wrote: post #72
jashmenn wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah sorry! I absolutely did not mean this to disparage Evan. I think very highly of him and love Vue. So in that case, my example may not fit my point, which is that it's hard to become a personality (and/or brand) that is known well enough to support a full time income. One might say that other open-source projects don't make a significant income because they don't have value, but I think you only need to look at e.g…

Maybe it's more accurate to say that, when you're on Patreon, part of your job suddenly becomes a "hustle"? E.g. in Evan's case I get the feeling that without a constant stream of conference appearances and blog posts it would be harder to drive Patreon donations.

I like this. It's not as if Evan is a "celebrity" a priori - he writes good software, he travels and speaks, and Vue's success is in large part because of his hustle, as you put it.

This idea of "hustle as your new second job" is a better phrasing than my parent comment where it sounds like I'm implying that self-promotion is bad or somehow empty.

Becoming a personality is an excellent strategy - if you're known and loved you'll never starve.

I'm mostly trying to point out that time spent hustling takes away from time building. It's still valuable in it's own way, but many OSS devs (who have created software people find valuable and use) don't want to travel to speak at conferences to pay their bills.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#123

Post by BjoernKW »

If you're developing a library dual-licensing is a reasonable option.

Many open source developers probably shy away from that option though because they're afraid that fewer companies would use their library in the first place and they're also probably not entirely mistaken:

Enterprise companies are wary of effects licences like AGPL might have on their ability to keep their source code private. Unfortunately, those companies more often than not aren't exactly eager to pay for a licence that allows them to do just that either.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#124

Post by michaelbrave »

My best idea how to monetize would be to

1. Start a convention around it, which could be profitable 2. sell swag, T-shirts and the like (lets say it's a limited quantity that can only be bought by contributors, then it becomes a prized way to show off) 3. in app purchases, for example if I made a photoshop equivalent, but had it linked up to a font store. 4. Get companies/governments that use your software to give you Grants.

That's all I've got that hasn't already been covered. I know a few open source guys who just feel dirty about getting money for it. Personally I'm the same when I make art, I don't want it to be a job, when it starts becoming a job I stop enjoying it, and every time I've taken a break from art in my life it's because it started feeling oppressive like a job. As I learn to code, and as I start to enjoy it, I worry that a similar feeling may happen, in which case I may have an open source project or two on the side just for funzies while I have my moneymaking job separate. I think I would be happier with such an arrangement.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#125

Post by Arizhel »

Mz wrote: post #102
Theodores wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's take a musical analogy - a 'group' group. With a four piece popular beat combo the royalties go four ways, it is all viable as a business. With a larger collective or an orchestra the money gets a bit tight - it goes forty rather than four ways. But, this is something my internal dialogue says whenever I hear a musician talking about money (and where there share is...) - 'But you are in it for the music, right?…

The problem comes in when people expect professional level music, but insist that musicians should all do it for love while also supporting themselves with a day job. Professional level anything takes significant time and effort. If it has value to others, people should not object to the person providing that value capturing some of it so they can keep a roof over their head. Sometimes, the answers aren't as simple a…

Professional musicians these days earn their living by going on tour and selling concert tickets and merchandise (esp. T-shirts). The biggest ones are quite profitable, and the concert ticket prices I've seen lately are rather high ($50 to sit on the lawn, $200+ for seats, for one big concert in my area).

The problem is getting to that level where you have so many fans that you can fill an arena or even a smaller venue.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#126

Post by Mz »

Arizhel wrote: post #125
Mz wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem comes in when people expect professional level music, but insist that musicians should all do it for love while also supporting themselves with a day job. Professional level anything takes significant time and effort. If it has value to others, people should not object to the person providing that value capturing some of it so they can keep a roof over their head. Sometimes, the answers aren't as simple a…

Professional musicians these days earn their living by going on tour and selling concert tickets and merchandise (esp. T-shirts). The biggest ones are quite profitable, and the concert ticket prices I've seen lately are rather high ($50 to sit on the lawn, $200+ for seats, for one big concert in my area). The problem is getting to that level where you have so many fans that you can fill an arena or even a smaller ven…

It was a metaphor. It wasn't intended literally. The actual discussion here is about monetizing open source.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#127

Post by orthecreedence »

stevekemp wrote: post #112
orthecreedence wrote: post #34

I run an open source project (turtlapp.com). I want to monetize. I have people who tell me fairly often they want to pay for it. There are two things that hold me back. First is never quite feeling like it's ready to charge for (perfect being the enemy of good). Second is I don't know how much time I can devote to supporting it. Both are stupid reasons. I know this. I'm hoping to launch a premium service soon, and we…

Taking that first leap is pretty scary, and it gets weird when you realize sometimes you get more sales when you raise your prices. It's been ten years or so, but once I had an application I charged £5 for. There were so few users that support costs were always too high. Raising the price to £50 actually resulted in more sales, and fewer "Your application sucks" support-requests.

That's great to know, thank you. Maybe if things get too annoying I'll just raise prices. I didn't even think of that.

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#128

Post by bbcbasic »

antaviana wrote: post #101
Mz wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's almost better for the group if nobody gets paid. Relatedly: Studies show that paying people zero money and giving them respect gets better results than paying some pittance well below market rate. The study conclusion was to the effect of "Pay enough (market rates) or pay nothing. Don't pay some pittance because it is all your project can afford."

We used to have a freeware product that a few years after became a commercial product sold as a subscription. When it was a freeware product, several people wanted to donate but we never accepted any donation, just to avoid the feeling of getting paid too low. Also I guess we were a bit equalitarian: we wanted that either nobody paid or that everybody paid.

Good opportunity to make their donations go to a charity. They can feel twice as good!

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#129

Post by iamwil »

orthecreedence wrote: post #79
iamwil wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just start charging. You'll want to know earlier rather than later which one it is. Life is short. If it turns out this is not the thing you should be working on, knowing which one it is will free your mind up to do something else you should be doing.

Great advice. It's funny because I already know this, it's logical and the decision makes sense in every way, but I still have trouble doing it. I've got a nice chunk of nights/weekends in July, maybe I'll make the final push then.

#3 was what helped me.

https://www.inc.com/magazine/20110301/making-money-small-bus...

Re: Ask HN: Why don't more open-source projects monetize?

#130

Post by mehh »

Same old nonsense answers here.

1. Because companies don't want to pay license fees, so then don't use the damn software, who cares.

2. Oh you should just beg for handouts instead, because your effort and work isn't worth crap and you should be lucky to eat the crumbs of the massive tech industries table.

3. Oh don't sell the software, sell a bunch of crap around it instead.

Its about time developers stopped being afraid to charge for their effort.

If you want to charge those who commercially exploit your work, than dual license the damn thing.

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