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Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

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Re: Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

#51

Post by bradrydzewski »

vbordo wrote: post #41
bradrydzewski wrote: post #28

I really like the idea, and appreciate that there are people out there trying to solve this problem! I have struggled to financially support my open source projects through donations and support contracts, and ultimately decided on an open core model, which has yielded the most success to date. Moving to an open core model is challenging and building out a sales process and sales team can be a barrier for many develo…

We really appreciate your support! Yes, we’ve discussed something exactly like what you’re describing here. Open-core is an important revenue stream for open-source projects. We’re carefully considering how we can support projects that best fit an open-core model. I’m curious to hear more about the challenges around that shift towards an open-core model.

thanks for the response. I will add my name to the waitlist and look forward to discussing at a future date.

Re: Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

#52

Post by riyakhanna1983 »

jaboutboul wrote: post #49

Check out https://tidelift.com if you’re interested in something more robust that won’t take 10%. A bunch of ex-Red Hat guys who are truly open source legends behind it.

Have you used them? What's their cut?

Re: Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

#53

Post by jaboutboul »

riyakhanna1983 wrote: post #52
jaboutboul wrote: post #49

Check out https://tidelift.com if you’re interested in something more robust that won’t take 10%. A bunch of ex-Red Hat guys who are truly open source legends behind it.

Have you used them? What's their cut?

They're not about "cuts." First they track probably hundreds of thousands of packages/projects. They set up a subscription model where they charge based on dev team size/org size and project utilization and they provide security updates, maintenance, and legal assurances for the open source projects being used. Maintainers who sign up to help "lift" sign on for certain amount based on the popularity/ubiquity of the project. They are essentially channeling the revenues from these companies and paying out the maintainers. It the same as Red Hat charging a subscription fee and providing a whole bunch of stuff around that but Tidelift is paying maintainers directly.

You can read more about it here: https://tidelift.com/subscription and you can search through the packages and get some cool info for a maintainer here: https://tidelift.com/about/lifter

I DO NOT WORK FOR THEM. Just think this is the future of sustainable open source.

Re: Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

#56

Post by vbordo »

jaboutboul wrote: post #49

Check out https://tidelift.com if you’re interested in something more robust that won’t take 10%. A bunch of ex-Red Hat guys who are truly open source legends behind it.

Thanks for your comment. We have a lot of respect for anyone working to make open-source more sustainable. Here’s more information from their pricing page (https://tidelift.com/docs/lifting/paying)

> What is the Tidelift share?

> We don't want to lock this number down until we have more data, but can commit that the majority of subscriber fees will be paid out to lifters.

Re: Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

#57

Post by tmastro »

cosmie wrote: post #50
zapita wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also like that DevFlight works with individual maintainers, rather than with projects. Many prolific maintainers work with several projects. They may not have created any of those projects, and they may not run them either. When the spotlight is on the project (and by extension the founders of "top dogs" of that project), those valuable maintainers get ignored. I'm glad DevFlight is focusing on the individual.

I don't disagree that finding ways for prolific open source contributors to be able to monetize their expertise is incredibly valuable, but I'm not sure if that's actually DevFlight's focus. Their website copy focuses on "the maintainer's" project, and DevFlight's comments on this post repeatedly reference leveraging any community channels the maintainer created (such as social media and Slack) for outreach. As well,…

Great question. At this point, we’re focused on partnering with core maintainers of a project. As you’ve stated, these are the individuals who have control over what gets implemented in a project and ensuring project stability. However, we are also exploring ways to get expert contributors involved in the future.

Re: Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

#59

Post by zapita »

atomashpolskiy wrote: post #33
chuhnk wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can I ask. Do you write or maintain OSS code? Do you have large number of users? Do you work full time on OSS? Because your opinions are incredibly naive.

That's completely irrelevant. Working full time on OSS means being a businessman in disguise (and, arguably, perverts the very ideas of free OSS), so we're on the opposite sides of the fence, I presume. Or do you live off something else and work on your projects completely out of sheer altruism?

As someone who has worked many years in open-source, including as a maintainer, I can confirm that you clearly have no clue what you’re talking about. Your argument that somehow, not being paid for our work makes that work better, is 1) idiotic, 2) disrespectful, and 3) damaging to everyone trying to actually contribute. Arguments like yours are exactly what is wrong with open-source today. I’m glad this ridiculous mythology that you’re perpetuating is being challenged by the new generation of maintainers. But by all means, stay on your “side” of the “fence” as you put it. The open-source community has no use for you or your outdated ideas.

Re: Launch HN: DevFlight (YC W19) – Helping open-source maintainers make money

#60

Post by atomashpolskiy »

zapita wrote: post #59
atomashpolskiy wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's completely irrelevant. Working full time on OSS means being a businessman in disguise (and, arguably, perverts the very ideas of free OSS), so we're on the opposite sides of the fence, I presume. Or do you live off something else and work on your projects completely out of sheer altruism?

As someone who has worked many years in open-source, including as a maintainer, I can confirm that you clearly have no clue what you’re talking about. Your argument that somehow, not being paid for our work makes that work better, is 1) idiotic, 2) disrespectful, and 3) damaging to everyone trying to actually contribute. Arguments like yours are exactly what is wrong with open-source today. I’m glad this ridiculous m…

Kindly fuck off
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