Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#1

Post by mraza007 » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:13 AM UTC

I have been using open source software for a while. I feel like sometimes Open Source software is better than the proprietary ones. Since it allows you to customize and it gives you more control.

But the question is how do you sustain yourself while working fulltime on building/maintaining open source software

What are some tips to get into open source and turn it into fulltime career

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#2

Post by ununoctium87 » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:05 AM UTC

I’m responsible for a few repos, probably the most famous one being github.com/stretchr/testify.

My solution is that as much as I love open source and the community I’m in, I do not let it get in the way of work and family.

I’ll only contribute when I have spare time. Unless I were to be paid for it.

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#3

Post by donedealomg » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:06 AM UTC

Most open-source software is written by people who are paid by large corporations.

For example, Everybody on the Open-JDK program is on the Oracle payroll.

Yes, that's right. Large Corporations are the biggest contributors to open-source software. I know that might burst a bubble of people thinking we all sit in mommies basement coding the best software around for free, the reality is different. Microsoft, for example, is one of the biggest contributors to the Open Source community on the planet.

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#4

Post by Lemmih » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:07 AM UTC

I have sponsors on Github and rake in a cool $2 per month. It's obviously less after taxes so I also have a day job.

https://github.com/sponsors/Lemmih

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#5

Post by briandilley » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:23 AM UTC

with food and water, how else?

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#6

Post by dmortin » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:24 AM UTC

There's donation, but I wonder what percent of users actually donate.

Also, what if people donate and there are various contributors to the project beside the main author(s)? Should they get a piece too?

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#7

Post by evmar » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:24 AM UTC

I have been able to write some free software as part of my paying job. For some companies this is a real strategy, that is explained by companies commoditizing their complements [1].

[1] https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2002/06/12/strategy-letter-v/

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#8

Post by MattGaiser » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:27 AM UTC

Lemmih wrote: post #4

I have sponsors on Github and rake in a cool $2 per month. It's obviously less after taxes so I also have a day job. https://github.com/sponsors/Lemmih

Be hilarious if the tax people in various countries started checking repos to see if people were reporting their donations as they assumed you guys make bank.

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#9

Post by gfmio » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:31 AM UTC

I have a day job. Right now, I do open source purely on the side, but if I was to get enough donations/sponsors or I got paid for doing open source work, I’d happily start doing it full-time. I do sometimes contribute to open source during my paid work, but that’s more an exception than a rule.

Re: Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

#10

Post by brongondwana » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:34 AM UTC

briandilley wrote: post #5

with food and water, how else?

I hear oxygen is also popular