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I don't think there's anything wrong with us. First of all, no one says you should do anything. We're asking kindly because we can, and you can do all range of
by tachion 9y ago
I don't think there's anything wrong with us. First of all, no one says you should do anything. We're asking kindly because we can, and you can do all range of things from ignoring us completely to donating $1M like WhatsApp founder. Because you can too.
Second thing is that's its much easier to ask open source aware HN reader for $50 than a huge megacorp hive mind for 50c. Not to mention every 'end user dollar' is worth much more for the foundation given the regulations, where to keep the tax status we need to show up numbers supporting in people, rather than businesses.
And finally, many of these companies do give us money and code, some in the open, some anonymously due to the reasons known only to them.
Just a food for thought for you when you'll be thinking about these donations :)
- int_19h 9y agoI think it's not so much about donating in and of itself, as it is about this "it runs Netflix!" argument. I do donate to FreeBSD regularly - in fact, I have a matching paycheck donation set up. But that's because I personally use it in my projects. When it comes to Netflix, I already pay for Netflix, so the notion that I should also pay to FreeBSD because it makes Netflix possible is kinda ridiculous.
- ianai 9y agoThere’s also the argument regarding existence. Without the BSDs there would be much fewer ways for people and companies to use great, legitimately industry standard software/hardware technologies. Where would people cut their teeth programming and administrating the same tech that will land them work? Sure, Microsoft’s OSes exist, they’re not economically available for everybody. To say nothing about the realities of which OS offers a better developer/admin experience.