7 ms·

So we delegate complete control over open source financing channel to Microsoft, because it's most conveniant option? Sounds a bit insane. I do use both GitHub

So we delegate complete control over open source financing channel to Microsoft, because it's most conveniant option? Sounds a bit insane. I do use both GitHub and its Sponsors feature, but I'm still hoping for open source community to come to consensus to use a service from non-profit organization like Mozilla or EFF.

ubercow13 6y ago
This wouldn't prevent you sending cash to the developer in an envelope, just like Github existing doesn't prevent you hosting your project elsewhere
- peteforde 6y ago
  With my tongue firmly pressed in cheek, I think you're being charitable to imply that most loud FOSS champions are currently making any meaningful attempt to send money to developers. No, this is all about hating Github/Microsoft because they are big and because they won. Nothing in my comment is remotely controversial to realists.
- jmiskovic 6y ago
  To send someone money I'd have to know their address (not viable). If they only accept money through GitHub sponsorship, then I'm prevented from donating in any other way. Which option do we (content creators) endorse? We definitely need to transition to better funding model. Seeking out donations and sponsorships is frustrating and that time could be better spent. GitHub Sponsors managed to solve most problems on technical level, but I'd like to see other options.
  - GordonS 6y ago
    > To send someone money I'd have to know their address You could just ask them? I recently donated to an OSS project for which the maintainer didn't publish any means of accepting donations - I simply asked and he sent his PayPal address. Another option would be for maintainers to publish a Bitcoin address in their profile - but again, if not already present, just ask.
    - Kaze404 6y ago
      They're talking about physical address, as that's what the parent suggested.
      - GordonS 6y ago
        Yes, I got that; I was suggesting you can just ask the author for their address or other means of payment, but in addition made a suggestion of authors publishing Bitcoin address (in reality many would likely prefer fiat currency though).
peteforde 6y ago
Friend, you are going to be waiting for a very, very long time. In the meantime, every day OSS project maintainers get burned out, depressed, and often called mean names and there is no viable mechanism for them to get paid for it. CodeFund shut down, Flattr is not a significant player - I first heard of it in this thread. Frankly, the network effects of GH make them the only viable place for this to happen in the medium future.
- jmiskovic 6y ago
  I agree with all your points, but I'm still optimistic. The biggest two issues are that anything related to finances is heavily regulated, and that third-party services integrated into repositories/blogs/posts create lot of friction for users. It should come down to 1 button: donate fixed amount immediately. It's easy to press that button few times, or to press the button every time you update to new version. Simple is good. One way around regulation would be for each online service to have a independent credit system. Like karma, but you can also spend it to reward others. Communities would reward each other for creating content. Independent entities could offer to exchange your GitHub credits to Reddit credits. Those entities could also handle exchange to and from actual money, with credit card fees and necessary financial regulation isolated to just those entities. Let the market regulate itself.
  - peteforde 6y ago
    Do you not see that the very thing that made GH a social hub for something that was previously totally disconnected is exactly what is required to push something like this anywhere close to a critical mass? What other service is going to provide a consistent, trusted interface with payment details already stored that is so close to the projects that you're using? Maybe the npm registry... oh wait. :P Seriously, if what you want was going to happen, it would have happened by now. There isn't another force on the planet today that could make even a small dent.
caniszczyk 6y ago
There's a funding service by the Linux Foundation which projects can use as an option: https://funding.communitybridge.org https://funding.communitybridge.org You can see other options out there too via https://www.oss.fund https://www.oss.fund In general, donations/sponsors I don't think will scale for many reasons: https://www.aniszczyk.org/2019/03/25/troubles-with-the-open-source-gig-economy-and-sustainability-tip-jar/ https://www.aniszczyk.org/2019/03/25/troubles-with-the-open-...

ubercow13 6y ago

This wouldn't prevent you sending cash to the developer in an envelope, just like Github existing doesn't prevent you hosting your project elsewhere

peteforde 6y ago
With my tongue firmly pressed in cheek, I think you're being charitable to imply that most loud FOSS champions are currently making any meaningful attempt to send money to developers. No, this is all about hating Github/Microsoft because they are big and because they won. Nothing in my comment is remotely controversial to realists.
jmiskovic 6y ago
To send someone money I'd have to know their address (not viable). If they only accept money through GitHub sponsorship, then I'm prevented from donating in any other way. Which option do we (content creators) endorse? We definitely need to transition to better funding model. Seeking out donations and sponsorships is frustrating and that time could be better spent. GitHub Sponsors managed to solve most problems on technical level, but I'd like to see other options.
- GordonS 6y ago
  > To send someone money I'd have to know their address You could just ask them? I recently donated to an OSS project for which the maintainer didn't publish any means of accepting donations - I simply asked and he sent his PayPal address. Another option would be for maintainers to publish a Bitcoin address in their profile - but again, if not already present, just ask.
  - Kaze404 6y ago
    They're talking about physical address, as that's what the parent suggested.
    - GordonS 6y ago
      Yes, I got that; I was suggesting you can just ask the author for their address or other means of payment, but in addition made a suggestion of authors publishing Bitcoin address (in reality many would likely prefer fiat currency though).

peteforde 6y ago

Friend, you are going to be waiting for a very, very long time. In the meantime, every day OSS project maintainers get burned out, depressed, and often called mean names and there is no viable mechanism for them to get paid for it. CodeFund shut down, Flattr is not a significant player - I first heard of it in this thread. Frankly, the network effects of GH make them the only viable place for this to happen in the medium future.

jmiskovic 6y ago
I agree with all your points, but I'm still optimistic. The biggest two issues are that anything related to finances is heavily regulated, and that third-party services integrated into repositories/blogs/posts create lot of friction for users. It should come down to 1 button: donate fixed amount immediately. It's easy to press that button few times, or to press the button every time you update to new version. Simple is good. One way around regulation would be for each online service to have a independent credit system. Like karma, but you can also spend it to reward others. Communities would reward each other for creating content. Independent entities could offer to exchange your GitHub credits to Reddit credits. Those entities could also handle exchange to and from actual money, with credit card fees and necessary financial regulation isolated to just those entities. Let the market regulate itself.
- peteforde 6y ago
  Do you not see that the very thing that made GH a social hub for something that was previously totally disconnected is exactly what is required to push something like this anywhere close to a critical mass? What other service is going to provide a consistent, trusted interface with payment details already stored that is so close to the projects that you're using? Maybe the npm registry... oh wait. :P Seriously, if what you want was going to happen, it would have happened by now. There isn't another force on the planet today that could make even a small dent.

caniszczyk 6y ago

There's a funding service by the Linux Foundation which projects can use as an option: https://funding.communitybridge.org https://funding.communitybridge.org You can see other options out there too via https://www.oss.fund https://www.oss.fund In general, donations/sponsors I don't think will scale for many reasons: https://www.aniszczyk.org/2019/03/25/troubles-with-the-open-source-gig-economy-and-sustainability-tip-jar/ https://www.aniszczyk.org/2019/03/25/troubles-with-the-open-...