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A new funding model for open source software

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Re: A new funding model for open source software

#31

Post by boogies »

Galanwe wrote: post #30
boogies wrote: post #26

> That's because there's currently no way to make a donation to the abstract concept of "open source software" This isn't absolutely true, there are the FSF and the Software Freedom Conservancy, who fund many medium-ish projects, including ones that include some small utilities.

And also fund a lot of evangelists that don't code at all but spend their time playing open source cops on mailing lists, forums and tech conventions.

(IOW, their idea of supporting the abstract idea of open source software. Although I'm not sure who you're talking about: Stallman I guess fits the description now but wrote his fair share of code in his day.)

Re: A new funding model for open source software

#32

Post by namibj »

jacques_chester wrote: post #11

I termed this model "microsubscriptions" when I was pursuing it in the context of website funding. There are difficulties. Gaming the system Folks will absolutely distort their software, buy fake github stars, spam out bazillions of typosquatting packages etc. We know this because there is already a weak financial incentive to subvert: supply chain attacks for cryptominers. Direct cash will be a much stronger incenti…

Yes, if you take credit cards, you'll have loads of issues. But for example supporting the eurozone (most of the EU) is both easier and better accomplished by only taking SEPA push transfers. While there is fraud risk, it's significantly less and shouldn't cost you as the processor. Worst case, I think, it'd be the cents you have to pay to send the money back.

And regarding the issue with being a trust: sure that's a thing, but contract terms should be able to fix the problem by making you send it back (minus nominal fees?) if the designated recipient's registered IBAN refuses your payout. And just don't offer to collect money for anyone who didn't register.

Re: A new funding model for open source software

#33

Post by musingsole »

Everyone thinks they deserve a dollar and can never imagine that the relative value of their code is effectively zero no matter how much it solves a particular problem.

>Big projects — operating systems, frameworks, CMSs, or fully self-hostable applications — are in a privileged position to extract more value from their users, especially corporate ones

Big projects aren't privileged to extract more value. They're privileged to solve enough of a problem for enough people that the scraps thrown their way amount to a meaningful warchest. Corporate big projects are privileged to extract wealth. That's the part that pays crazy SWE salaries.

Re: A new funding model for open source software

#35

Post by jacques_chester »

namibj wrote: post #32
jacques_chester wrote: post #11

I termed this model "microsubscriptions" when I was pursuing it in the context of website funding. There are difficulties. Gaming the system Folks will absolutely distort their software, buy fake github stars, spam out bazillions of typosquatting packages etc. We know this because there is already a weak financial incentive to subvert: supply chain attacks for cryptominers. Direct cash will be a much stronger incenti…

Yes, if you take credit cards, you'll have loads of issues. But for example supporting the eurozone (most of the EU) is both easier and better accomplished by only taking SEPA push transfers. While there is fraud risk, it's significantly less and shouldn't cost you as the processor. Worst case, I think, it'd be the cents you have to pay to send the money back. And regarding the issue with being a trust: sure that's a…

My point on trusts is that very few people consider them and wind up in the default arrangements. Which are less than ideal.

But setting up an explicit trust arrangement needs to be done with great care as well, especially since trust laws vary from place to place.

Re: A new funding model for open source software

#37

Post by colinmcd »

musingsole wrote: post #33

Everyone thinks they deserve a dollar and can never imagine that the relative value of their code is effectively zero no matter how much it solves a particular problem. >Big projects — operating systems, frameworks, CMSs, or fully self-hostable applications — are in a privileged position to extract more value from their users, especially corporate ones Big projects aren't privileged to extract more value. They're pri…

You seem to be reacting against the term "privileged" in a way I didn't intend. I don't mean to say that they have some unfair advantage. They just have a more foundational role in the tech stack of the products built on top of them, so companies have a bigger incentive to keep the wheels turning.

Re: A new funding model for open source software

#38

Post by pabs3 »

Galanwe wrote: post #30
boogies wrote: post #26

> That's because there's currently no way to make a donation to the abstract concept of "open source software" This isn't absolutely true, there are the FSF and the Software Freedom Conservancy, who fund many medium-ish projects, including ones that include some small utilities.

And also fund a lot of evangelists that don't code at all but spend their time playing open source cops on mailing lists, forums and tech conventions.

Both the FSF and Conservancy do pay people to code and do other technical work.

Re: A new funding model for open source software

#39

Post by dnautics »

What would be fantastic is if this service scaled contributions across projects whose code you are actually using in your repos.

Minor nitpick: I don't think a badge is really considered virtue signaling because you've already put your wallet where your mouth is.

Re: A new funding model for open source software

#40

Post by colinmcd »

ZinniaZirconium wrote: post #22

OK my project is open source. I have zero stars, zero downloads, and zero users. How much do I get paid? Zero? But I wrote open source code that solves a real problem. It's open source. I should deserve to get paid. Because open source software. I don't think your funding model works.

You don't get paid unless someone adds you to their sponsor pool. If no one knows about your thing, you don't get paid. Am I misunderstanding your question?
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