Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Libre Endowment Fund: Sustainable Development of Free Software

fdl-lef.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 45 posts

Re: Libre Endowment Fund: Sustainable Development of Free Software

#2

Post by fanpx »

"Members are required to have an PhD in Mathematics or Computer Science related disciplines as well as being authors of FLOSS/Free Software."

First of all, it is "a PhD", secondly, this looks like the typical scientific ecosystem power grab that we have seen multiple times in the US.

In the Python scientific space, people doing actual work are exploited ruthlessly.

Re: Libre Endowment Fund: Sustainable Development of Free Software

#6

Post by smetsjp »

fanpx wrote: post #2

"Members are required to have an PhD in Mathematics or Computer Science related disciplines as well as being authors of FLOSS/Free Software." First of all, it is "a PhD", secondly, this looks like the typical scientific ecosystem power grab that we have seen multiple times in the US. In the Python scientific space, people doing actual work are exploited ruthlessly.

There is a presentation at FOSDEM 2021 about FDL: https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/fosstaxbreak/

Title: Give open source a (tax) break

Cash that gets into FDL/LEF is then spent to sponsor existing FLOSS projects or to acquire intellectual property rights of existing works and change their license to FLOSS.

Case 1: https://bossanova.uk/jspreadsheet/v4/ got financed partly by FDL/LEF

Case 2: the radio hardware of the Open Radio Station (a 4G/5G vRAN base station based on Amarisoft stack and SlapOS) is in the process of being acquired and released as open source hardware. See https://shop.rapid.space/product_module/241/Resource_viewAsS...

The requirement for PhD is here to ensure that all projects that are financed by FDL/LEF have some kind of general interest or innovation, something which is useful to comply with Tax Law

Re: Libre Endowment Fund: Sustainable Development of Free Software

#7

Post by solarkraft »

smetsjp wrote: post #6
fanpx wrote: post #2

"Members are required to have an PhD in Mathematics or Computer Science related disciplines as well as being authors of FLOSS/Free Software." First of all, it is "a PhD", secondly, this looks like the typical scientific ecosystem power grab that we have seen multiple times in the US. In the Python scientific space, people doing actual work are exploited ruthlessly.

There is a presentation at FOSDEM 2021 about FDL: https://fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/fosstaxbreak/ Title: Give open source a (tax) break Cash that gets into FDL/LEF is then spent to sponsor existing FLOSS projects or to acquire intellectual property rights of existing works and change their license to FLOSS. Case 1: https://bossanova.uk/jspreadsheet/v4/ got financed partly by FDL/LEF Case 2: the radio hardware of…

> ensure that all projects that are financed by FDL/LEF have some kind of general interest or innovation

How does it ensure that?

Re: Libre Endowment Fund: Sustainable Development of Free Software

#9

Post by thecodrr »

The process looks quite complicated and time consuming. I wonder how many FOSS projects will enroll. The criteria is alright but doesn't mention anything about library maintainers.

In the end, it's money so I get why it has to be so long form and time consuming but I think a lot of really good projects will either not take the time to enroll or give up in the middle.

In my opinion, such a fund should be set up for both big projects with orgs behind them and small projects with only a few people. Otherwise, it doesn't actually benefit or encourage anyone. Of course, the amount of funding could be relative to the size and impact but everyone should be encouraged to enroll. That way OSS can become a truly sustainable system.

Re: Libre Endowment Fund: Sustainable Development of Free Software

#10

Post by cpach »

fanpx wrote: post #2

"Members are required to have an PhD in Mathematics or Computer Science related disciplines as well as being authors of FLOSS/Free Software." First of all, it is "a PhD", secondly, this looks like the typical scientific ecosystem power grab that we have seen multiple times in the US. In the Python scientific space, people doing actual work are exploited ruthlessly.

That’s an … interesting requirement. In France there is, AFAIK, an exaggerated emphasis on the importance of holding a PhD title. IMHO I can’t really see the strong connection between acquiring an PhD and the ability to successfully lead open source projects.
Post reply on HN