3 ms·

I never found any success with donations. Instead I'd suggest creating a new pain while solving a problem. So then you charge for that...

• petercooper 16y ago
  Only a single data point, but in 2005 I had several thousands in donations over $several months for a basic online service (only a Perl CGI script at the time..!) and my buddies over at Phusion have had a crazy level of success with them: http://pledgie.com/campaigns/2975 http://pledgie.com/campaigns/2975 Given Zed's stature, I doubt he will have problems getting enough donations to keep him sustained for a while even if it's not a permanent situation.
  • HNer 16y ago
    A 'few k' is a lousy return IMO.
    • petercooper 16y ago
      Yeah? For just hanging out your shingle and asking, anything seems like gravy to me. In Phusion's case, I know that the $13k in donations made a huge difference for getting Passenger 2 out of the door and in my case it validated the business idea (a little) and was a factor in the angel investors approaching me. But your milage might vary and if you have to struggle and beg for those donations, you are probably right. Time may be better spent elsewhere. I can't see Zed having that problem!
      • HNer 16y ago
        I suspect he'll make a few k, but in truth I can't see it being too fab. Also it lowers his valuation in some peoples eyes, who will say 'look Zed's broke' which strangely changes the dynamics of many relationships. When people see your desperate they generally dismiss or avoid you.
        • zedshaw 16y ago
          I'm not desperate at all, in fact I had saved up money to fund the project myself for a couple months. The donations are because my goals in Mongrel2 changed once I realized I could actually change the lives of programmers and maybe put an end to at least a tiny bit of the language religion that seems to infect the web programming world. With a bigger goal and one that needs me to give the software away for it to succeed, I decided to ask for donations. The donations serve two purposes: They make it so I can work on Mongrel2 for a while and get something awesome started. It also demonstrates that other people are backing what I'm doing. When you don't have a large community at the start, people will take monetary amounts donated as a sign that the project might go somewhere. I can't say I agree with folks who judge a project's success by donation amounts or community size over technical capability, but I can understand it.
          • HNer 16y ago
            I would like to qualify that I personally don't equate lack of monetary success to failure or such, however, I once ran a large successful electronic design manufacturing and distribution business, while I was extremely successful from the outside looking in, on the inside I was suffering. I hence gave it all up, at which point a markedly evident change occurred in family, friends, business associates, perception of me which was a clear as ice. You would not be alone I'm sure facing the dialema of making something cool but not making financial success from your efforts : http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1563441 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1563441
            • jayjay1010 16y ago
              Zed Shaw should just contine to make no cash and ask for donations, because they will pay his bils for a few months.
          • jacquesm 16y ago
            > maybe put an end to at least a tiny bit of the language religion that seems to infect the web programming world. That alone makes it well worth it to me. I'm not going to donate because I've never used your stuff, but if that's your goal then it's a noble one. Good luck!
• technoweenie 16y ago
  Even on my crappy OSS projects, I've been able to pay for a few sweet sushi dinners. WORTH IT.