Paying for Open Source Contributions • Hacker News Board

Re: Paying for Open Source Contributions

#131

Post by bobblywobbles » Mon, May 06, 2019, 4:06 PM UTC

jb3689 wrote: post #56

bobblywobbles wrote: post #50

If I'm paid for open source, I'm going to lose any motivation to work on it more. The reason why I contribute to open source projects is BECAUSE I want to contribute for free. Put money in the deal and I'm no longer doing this work selflessly, but for self-interest instead.

What if you just give the money to charity? Does that change your opinion?

I already give money to charity.

The reason why I don't like to put money in open-source work is it attaches a value on something where I would consider the work priceless and personal.

It makes the work feel cold, or transactional. I'm sure others would agree.

Re: Paying for Open Source Contributions

#132

Post by bobblywobbles » Mon, May 06, 2019, 4:11 PM UTC

ryanisinallofus wrote: post #85

bobblywobbles wrote: post #50

If I'm paid for open source, I'm going to lose any motivation to work on it more. The reason why I contribute to open source projects is BECAUSE I want to contribute for free. Put money in the deal and I'm no longer doing this work selflessly, but for self-interest instead.

Someone here gets the 20/hour for STEM volunteer work with kids then donates the money to a charity which Formidable also doubles as a part of another program. Would that address the issue for you or is the idea of getting paid for fun stuff just ruin the fun no matter what on principle? (I work at Formidable)

I may differ from others, but anything that I do as volunteer work needs to be unpaid. Putting money in the equation means that I'm no longer doing X work for Y people, but instead doing X work for Z dollars.

Putting money in the work makes it transactional, and that turns me off to "paid volunteer work". At that point, it's really just another label for "optional job". Volunteer work is donating your time or effort, so putting the "paid" label on it is misleading in my eyes.

I also already donate to charity so I don't see a need to get paid to donate more money, which others may have an incentive to do. This is a point to consider.

Re: Paying for Open Source Contributions

#133

Post by rusticpenn » Tue, May 07, 2019, 10:50 AM UTC

yeahitslikethat wrote: post #128

leapis wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would help my neighbor move some furniture for free, and I'd still do it if he offered to pay me $5. I wouldn't accept the money (because it's socially unacceptable to do so), but his offer wouldn't get in the way of me helping him. If he offered me a drink after, I wouldn't say no. It's understood that this offer is in direct response to me helping him, but I'm still motivated out of altruism. I'm simply receiving…

It's about recognition of value. If I earn $150/hr to write software and you suggest paying me $20/hr it means you don't properly value my time. A thank you and genuine appreciation is better.

Not always. I might prefer working on something I love for $20/hr instead of working unders omeone for $50/hr

Re: Paying for Open Source Contributions

#134

Post by rusticpenn » Tue, May 07, 2019, 12:47 PM UTC

bhousel wrote: post #45

jevakallio wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Author of the post here. Realistically, we can't pay people full engineering salaries to do random OSS. Our team can already contribute to OSS on their work time when it relates to their work, or our own projects, but for the personal interest/passion projects without direct benefit for us as a company, it doesn't scale. Doubly so when we have a pretty strict "no overtime" policy of working no more than 40 hours a we…

> Realistically, we can't pay people full engineering salaries to do random OSS. Why can't you? Professors get paid full professor salaries to do "random research". Doctors get paid full doctor salaries to treat "random illnesses". I expect if you looked a bit closer, you'll find that "Random OSS" is maintenance that makes the entire ecosystem possible. Would love to hear from some of your engineers what they are doi…

You overestimsate the amount of random research a Professor is able to do these days.

Re: Paying for Open Source Contributions

#135

Post by yeahitslikethat » Tue, May 07, 2019, 6:03 PM UTC

rusticpenn wrote: post #133

yeahitslikethat wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's about recognition of value. If I earn $150/hr to write software and you suggest paying me $20/hr it means you don't properly value my time. A thank you and genuine appreciation is better.

Not always. I might prefer working on something I love for $20/hr instead of working unders omeone for $50/hr

You could and generally should.