4 ms·

I don't understand how YC can fund non-profits like VotePlz and the ACLU while not funding stuff like this. Whenever I read something that starts off along the

by grzm 10y ago

I don't understand how YC can fund non-profits like VotePlz and the ACLU while not funding stuff like this. Whenever I read something that starts off along the lines of "I don't understand" or "It makes no sense" I wonder how much time the poster has taken to put themselves in the shoes of those they can't understand and rough out ideas that might make sense to them. Look at VotePlz and the ACLU, the other startups YC supports, and Octave. Do you see any similarities? Any differences? The first that jumps out at me is that YC doesn't support open source for open sources' sake. It supports organizations that serve some sort of purpose other than writing software; another way to describe this is that the organizations have business models. Some of the startups might be developing services that support software development or tech rather than something consumer facing, but it's the service, rather than the software, that is being supported by YC. In that sense, VotePlz and the ACLU are similar to the startups YC supports. Octave isn't like this. What is Octave's business model, other than to develop software that can be used by others? Please don't get me wrong. I see a lot of value in open source projects, and have used and contributed to open source projects both professionally and personally. I don't have any experience using Octave, but have no issue giving it the benefit of the doubt that it's a worthwhile project. Perhaps I'm mistaken. Are there software projects similar to Octave that YC supports? Is there a meaningful difference between YC's startups and VotePlz and the ACLU, and open source projects such as Octave?

hkmurakami 10y ago
Put that way, YC's politically leaning activities remind me of lobbying. Supporting policies that are good for its business models.
kriro 10y ago
They could set up a fund of sorts and just take stock of what FLOSS software the current batch/all running batches use and distribute some amount of money that way. They could also just hire prominent FLOSS folks as exclusive consultants for their batch companies which could actually turn out to be rather valuable. They could also set up a special mini-incubator focused on helping FLOSS developers build a business around their software. I think there are a lot of rather interesting strategic options.
- briandear 10y ago
  I think that is a pretty great idea.. essentially a private tax system to pay open source. However like all tax systems, it would only work if there were an enforcement mechanism. I do find it ironic that many of the dev crowd seem to love government taxes yet when it comes down to actually putting money into the products (code,) they depend on, people seem to get free-ridery all the sudden. Yet people have no problem wanting to tax people for whatever government program of the moment is en vogue. I don't use public transport (I live in the countryside in France,) but I do use open source every day. I pay taxes for subsidizing the Paris metro (via national taxes,) yet I never (or very rarely) use it. Every person using a smartphone on a train is using open source in some form. My logic isn't well formed but my point is that open source is every bit as "worthy" as a bullet train from LA to San Fran -- and probably benefits far more people. However since open source doesn't result in certain politicians' associates getting rich off of land deal, open source doesn't have much political interest. To be clear, I am not proposing a government tax to fund software -- I am suggesting that investors/devs/companies that use open source ought to consider ways to support the tools that make their business possible. Free is never free -- some dude (or lady) in a basement somewhere is forgoing personal income to help build the tools upon which billion dollar companies depend. Open source is similar to someone personally doing the work to build a road -- a road traveled by companies making money by using that volunatarily created road.
  - wolfgke 10y ago
    > I do find it ironic that many of the dev crowd seem to love government taxes Can you provide evidence for that?
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]

by grzm 10y ago

hkmurakami 10y ago

Put that way, YC's politically leaning activities remind me of lobbying. Supporting policies that are good for its business models.

kriro 10y ago

They could set up a fund of sorts and just take stock of what FLOSS software the current batch/all running batches use and distribute some amount of money that way. They could also just hire prominent FLOSS folks as exclusive consultants for their batch companies which could actually turn out to be rather valuable. They could also set up a special mini-incubator focused on helping FLOSS developers build a business around their software. I think there are a lot of rather interesting strategic options.

briandear 10y ago
I think that is a pretty great idea.. essentially a private tax system to pay open source. However like all tax systems, it would only work if there were an enforcement mechanism. I do find it ironic that many of the dev crowd seem to love government taxes yet when it comes down to actually putting money into the products (code,) they depend on, people seem to get free-ridery all the sudden. Yet people have no problem wanting to tax people for whatever government program of the moment is en vogue. I don't use public transport (I live in the countryside in France,) but I do use open source every day. I pay taxes for subsidizing the Paris metro (via national taxes,) yet I never (or very rarely) use it. Every person using a smartphone on a train is using open source in some form. My logic isn't well formed but my point is that open source is every bit as "worthy" as a bullet train from LA to San Fran -- and probably benefits far more people. However since open source doesn't result in certain politicians' associates getting rich off of land deal, open source doesn't have much political interest. To be clear, I am not proposing a government tax to fund software -- I am suggesting that investors/devs/companies that use open source ought to consider ways to support the tools that make their business possible. Free is never free -- some dude (or lady) in a basement somewhere is forgoing personal income to help build the tools upon which billion dollar companies depend. Open source is similar to someone personally doing the work to build a road -- a road traveled by companies making money by using that volunatarily created road.
- wolfgke 10y ago
  > I do find it ironic that many of the dev crowd seem to love government taxes Can you provide evidence for that?
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]