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FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

floss.fund

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Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#11

Post by ignoramous »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #10
theragra wrote: post #2

Interesting that these kind of things are done by less known companies, not the big names. At least that's my (uninformed) impression.

I think any employee in tech should appeal to their employers to donate / contribute to the open source projects they use.

Appealing will only get so far in any bureaucratic mess, especially if those responsible for the decision are way above your pay grade.

These companies instead should carve out a matching donation program for employees funding FOSS projects.

Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#12

Post by traceroute66 »

ignoramous wrote: post #5

To apply, the project must place a funding.json in their public code repository or at a well-known uri location on their domain: https://dir.floss.fund/submit That's already 10x more simpler than the 20 page document some of these other orgs have you fill. Looking at you Llama Impact Grants, OpenAI Cybersecurity Grants, NLNet, & OpenTechFund. --- Disclaimer: A project I co-develop was granted £3.75k in 2023 back when…

> That's already 10x more simpler than the 20 page document some of these other orgs have you fill. Looking at you

I guess somebody has to point out the obvious ....

First, the process is probably simpler because the donation amounts are going to be smaller. If there's only $1M per year in the bank, I somehow don't see them giving out the sorts of large sums the others you mentioned do, e.g. OpenTechFund says it will give up to $400,000 ... I don't see that happening with a fund that only has $1M a year to give out.

Second, building on the above, giving out large sums involves a greater amount of due diligence.

Finally, sadly, the most obvious point .... a longer form helps sort the wheat from the chaff. Both in terms of cutting down the volume of applications some poor soul has to trawl over, but also helping keep the quality of applications high.

Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#14

Post by rvnx »

oefrha wrote: post #7
louthy wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair Microsoft have been making contributions. I’ve received two $1000 contributions from them in the past couple of years. It’s obviously not enough to give up the day job, but it dwarfs all other contributions I’ve had.

In my experience developers as a whole are very stingy, even though they complain about companies not donating to open source all the time, and complain when companies do donate but the amount is too little for their liking. (For instance, when I google “microsoft foss fund payout” the first result after the official landing page is https://lobste.rs/s/wyvnuu/microsoft_foss_fund_winner_curl complaining about the amou…

I have a theory for why developers complain it is too low. A large recurring “donation” can be a bit of a trap.

In practice it can be an hidden freelancing or employment relationship.

Donators actually expect you to do things in return, for example with cURL they expect the developer to do security fixes.

Otherwise they will not get the “donation” the next month

It may not be written on a paper for legal reasons, but it is made for a good reason.

A true donation you do not expect for anything in return.

This could explain why they consider donation too low. A gift cannot be too small. But a gift where the giver has very high expectations in return may be too low.

Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#16

Post by carlosjobim »

oefrha wrote: post #7
louthy wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair Microsoft have been making contributions. I’ve received two $1000 contributions from them in the past couple of years. It’s obviously not enough to give up the day job, but it dwarfs all other contributions I’ve had.

In my experience developers as a whole are very stingy, even though they complain about companies not donating to open source all the time, and complain when companies do donate but the amount is too little for their liking. (For instance, when I google “microsoft foss fund payout” the first result after the official landing page is https://lobste.rs/s/wyvnuu/microsoft_foss_fund_winner_curl complaining about the amou…

I hate open source and would consider myself the chief anti-open source crusader online. I always try to avoid FOSS and pay indie developers for their software. However, in a few cases I've been forced to use FOSS solutions when there's been no other alternative, and then I donate to the creator of it. And I always see the same thing. Thousands and thousands of downloads over the years and the creator has earned only a hundred dollars in donations.

It's pathetic, and just shows that most people haven't evolved spiritually beyond being freeloaders whenever they can.

No wonder millions would rather stand in line the whole day to get free bread than pay just a little for their food.

Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#17

Post by oefrha »

rvnx wrote: post #14
oefrha wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience developers as a whole are very stingy, even though they complain about companies not donating to open source all the time, and complain when companies do donate but the amount is too little for their liking. (For instance, when I google “microsoft foss fund payout” the first result after the official landing page is https://lobste.rs/s/wyvnuu/microsoft_foss_fund_winner_curl complaining about the amou…

I have a theory for why developers complain it is too low. A large recurring “donation” can be a bit of a trap. In practice it can be an hidden freelancing or employment relationship. Donators actually expect you to do things in return, for example with cURL they expect the developer to do security fixes. Otherwise they will not get the “donation” the next month It may not be written on a paper for legal reasons, but…

> Otherwise they will not get the “donation” the next month

Claw back this month’s “donation” if I don’t meet your expectations — sure, that’s an air quotes donation.

No donation next month if I don’t meet your expectations — that’s just a bona fide donation like any other.

Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#18

Post by ignoramous »

traceroute66 wrote: post #12
ignoramous wrote: post #5

To apply, the project must place a funding.json in their public code repository or at a well-known uri location on their domain: https://dir.floss.fund/submit That's already 10x more simpler than the 20 page document some of these other orgs have you fill. Looking at you Llama Impact Grants, OpenAI Cybersecurity Grants, NLNet, & OpenTechFund. --- Disclaimer: A project I co-develop was granted £3.75k in 2023 back when…

> That's already 10x more simpler than the 20 page document some of these other orgs have you fill. Looking at you I guess somebody has to point out the obvious .... First, the process is probably simpler because the donation amounts are going to be smaller. If there's only $1M per year in the bank, I somehow don't see them giving out the sorts of large sums the others you mentioned do, e.g. OpenTechFund says it will…

> First, the process is probably simpler because the donation amounts are going to be smaller.

I've applied to each of those funds for ~£5k. The process remains the same.

Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#19

Post by candiddevmike »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #10
theragra wrote: post #2

Interesting that these kind of things are done by less known companies, not the big names. At least that's my (uninformed) impression.

I think any employee in tech should appeal to their employers to donate / contribute to the open source projects they use.

Playing devil's advocate/CFO, what value does "the business" receive from this transaction?

Re: FLOSS/fund for free and open source projects

#20

Post by patcon »

traceroute66 wrote: post #12
ignoramous wrote: post #5

To apply, the project must place a funding.json in their public code repository or at a well-known uri location on their domain: https://dir.floss.fund/submit That's already 10x more simpler than the 20 page document some of these other orgs have you fill. Looking at you Llama Impact Grants, OpenAI Cybersecurity Grants, NLNet, & OpenTechFund. --- Disclaimer: A project I co-develop was granted £3.75k in 2023 back when…

> That's already 10x more simpler than the 20 page document some of these other orgs have you fill. Looking at you I guess somebody has to point out the obvious .... First, the process is probably simpler because the donation amounts are going to be smaller. If there's only $1M per year in the bank, I somehow don't see them giving out the sorts of large sums the others you mentioned do, e.g. OpenTechFund says it will…

From the post:

> Put money where the mouth is—a minimum of $10,000 and up to $100,000 for a single recipient, totaling $1 million per year, which we will increase once we understand the dynamics of running the fund.

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