7 ms·

You can charge for Open Source Software

dpark 8y ago
Of course you can. Charging is different from actually getting paid, though. Are there any examples of open source dev tools that pay a full time salary from actual customer payments?
- makapuf 8y ago
  Maybe not fulltime but I'd say tiled map editor seem to have stable income.
  - dpark 8y ago
    Is that actually a dev tool? That seems like a hobbyist tool. Devs are the hardest people to get to pay for software for some reason.
    - pjmlp 8y ago
      Check any old Byte magazine, it was quite common to pay for our tools, even freeware ones. Although those that could not afford them, usually would just pirate them. With the rise of FOSS, a new generation came to life feeling entitled to use the work of others for free while being paid for theirs. Thing is, pull requests and bug reports don't pay bills, neither is every kind of tool payable just with consulting, training or selling books. Now if every other profession was like this....
    - makapuf 8y ago
      Devs use this tool to make 2d games so that may count.
- robinhood 8y ago
  Yes, sort of. Sidekiq, for instance. The core product is free (and perfectly great), but the Pro version brings a lot of money. https://github.com/mperham/sidekiq https://github.com/mperham/sidekiq
  - dpark 8y ago
    I’m not familiar with Sidekiq. Am I correct in assuming that the “pro” version includes functionality that is not open sourced? If so, this is an example of proprietary code supporting the author with open source providing the free foundation.
    - mperham 8y ago
      waves https://www.indiehackers.com/businesses/sidekiq https://www.indiehackers.com/businesses/sidekiq
      - dpark 8y ago
        So a great example of how asking devs to pay for OSS is not very profitable. :) It’s essentially asking for donations.
        mperham 8y ago
        Yeah, something like RedHat does make lots of money off pure OSS because they sell huge support agreements to large orgs. It's harder/impossible to get smaller businesses to pay for smaller things like tools without holding back functionality. It's all about incentives. If you are selling support, you are incented to give poor support and documentation to your free users. If you are selling functionality, you are incented to give good support to everyone with the understanding that they need to upgrade if they want that functionality. I think the open core model makes for a happier, healthier community in general. The line in the sand where the user needs to pay is very clear and no one is treated poorly.
pjmlp 8y ago
Of course I can, problem is getting developers that only want free beer to actually pay.
makapuf 8y ago
It depends of your definition of can is. Of course you're allowed to do so. But for a desktop app with few moving parts (unlike an OS or complex enterprise software) there's few need of support or customisation. What business models do you have left ? (Apart from being paid for education by example) ? So if you cannot financially support it long term you effectively cannot charge it. There are few exceptions and they often rely of the capability to build but I think it's a net positive since the good ideas (multiple cursors done right) can be implemented in other editors.

Of course you can. Charging is different from actually getting paid, though. Are there any examples of open source dev tools that pay a full time salary from actual customer payments?

makapuf 8y ago
Maybe not fulltime but I'd say tiled map editor seem to have stable income.
- dpark 8y ago
  Is that actually a dev tool? That seems like a hobbyist tool. Devs are the hardest people to get to pay for software for some reason.
  - pjmlp 8y ago
    Check any old Byte magazine, it was quite common to pay for our tools, even freeware ones. Although those that could not afford them, usually would just pirate them. With the rise of FOSS, a new generation came to life feeling entitled to use the work of others for free while being paid for theirs. Thing is, pull requests and bug reports don't pay bills, neither is every kind of tool payable just with consulting, training or selling books. Now if every other profession was like this....
  - makapuf 8y ago
    Devs use this tool to make 2d games so that may count.
robinhood 8y ago
Yes, sort of. Sidekiq, for instance. The core product is free (and perfectly great), but the Pro version brings a lot of money. https://github.com/mperham/sidekiq https://github.com/mperham/sidekiq
- dpark 8y ago
  I’m not familiar with Sidekiq. Am I correct in assuming that the “pro” version includes functionality that is not open sourced? If so, this is an example of proprietary code supporting the author with open source providing the free foundation.
  - mperham 8y ago
    waves https://www.indiehackers.com/businesses/sidekiq https://www.indiehackers.com/businesses/sidekiq
    - dpark 8y ago
      So a great example of how asking devs to pay for OSS is not very profitable. :) It’s essentially asking for donations.
      - mperham 8y ago
        Yeah, something like RedHat does make lots of money off pure OSS because they sell huge support agreements to large orgs. It's harder/impossible to get smaller businesses to pay for smaller things like tools without holding back functionality. It's all about incentives. If you are selling support, you are incented to give poor support and documentation to your free users. If you are selling functionality, you are incented to give good support to everyone with the understanding that they need to upgrade if they want that functionality. I think the open core model makes for a happier, healthier community in general. The line in the sand where the user needs to pay is very clear and no one is treated poorly.

pjmlp 8y ago

Of course I can, problem is getting developers that only want free beer to actually pay.

makapuf 8y ago

It depends of your definition of can is. Of course you're allowed to do so. But for a desktop app with few moving parts (unlike an OS or complex enterprise software) there's few need of support or customisation. What business models do you have left ? (Apart from being paid for education by example) ? So if you cannot financially support it long term you effectively cannot charge it. There are few exceptions and they often rely of the capability to build but I think it's a net positive since the good ideas (multiple cursors done right) can be implemented in other editors.