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Google has earned billions thanks to techs like python, and never contributed much to it compared to what it gained. Then suddenly this. Now I'm wondering if

Google has earned billions thanks to techs like python, and never contributed much to it compared to what it gained. Then suddenly this. Now I'm wondering if MS hiring Guido triggered some reaction to not loose control of what is currently one of the most popular language in the world. Or something else I don't know about. I really want to rejoice. My favorite language gets $ 350k. Yet I can't help but be suspicious of philanthropy coming from big players. I'm getting cynical and always look for a PR, strategic investments or counter attacks.

peter_retief 6y ago
Everyone uses Python it is probably the most used language ever. I think it is really nice that Google gave the organisation some cash. If Google are trying to buy some goodwill in the developer community it is working.
bla3 6y ago
It's probably "now" because it's the sponsorship program got revamped, see https://www.python.org/psf/sponsorship-new/ https://www.python.org/psf/sponsorship-new/ They probably get their logo on the python.org website somewhere, and $350k isn't a ton of money. p The reason is PR. Still, good for the python foundation to have a program that allows it to harvest some of the PR budget out there.
- BiteCode_dev 6y ago
  Right. It's a good thing for the psf and it doesn't look like there a string attached.
- iudqnolq 6y ago
  I normally think overanalyzing where organizations spend their money is misguided, but I was surprised that the largest dollar amount on the infographic was spent "strengthening trademarks". Here's what I found under the details link. Does anyone understand what this actually means? > One major component of the PSF’s mission is protecting Python-related intellectual property. To strengthen the PSF’s trademarks and copyrights for Python, PyCon, and PyPI, the PSF spent over $198,000 USD in 2019 and $77,000 through October 2020.
  - maxerickson 6y ago
    It's probably mostly money paid to lawyers (to do various legal tasks associated with maintaining the trademarks).
ilaksh 6y ago
They earned billions and gave $350k? Actually it says $150k for Visionary. If it was 2 billion then they contributed less than 1/500th of what they received.
- zelphirkalt 6y ago
  Not sure what is so "downvotable" about the parent comment. It merely states a calculation result. Is it factually wrong or something? Anyone care to explain? Personally I would have gone further and called it "peanuts" for Google.
geofft 6y ago
The Python Software Foundation ordinarily raises funds via PyCon sponsorship, but PyCon was online last year and this year and who knows about next year, so in-person booths are much less valuable. Therefore, the PSF has been trying to switch to direct sponsorship. Google has been sponsoring PyCon at a high level for a long time. Also, Google uses Python heavily and employs at least one Python core dev off the top of my head (almost certainly quite a few more), so there are engineers there with a sense of the PSF's finances and enough seniority to influence folks who decide on donations. That's the most obvious angle to explain this. It's a strategic investment - Google cares about Python and they know the PSF needs money.

peter_retief 6y ago

Everyone uses Python it is probably the most used language ever. I think it is really nice that Google gave the organisation some cash. If Google are trying to buy some goodwill in the developer community it is working.

bla3 6y ago

It's probably "now" because it's the sponsorship program got revamped, see https://www.python.org/psf/sponsorship-new/ https://www.python.org/psf/sponsorship-new/ They probably get their logo on the python.org website somewhere, and $350k isn't a ton of money. p The reason is PR. Still, good for the python foundation to have a program that allows it to harvest some of the PR budget out there.

BiteCode_dev 6y ago
Right. It's a good thing for the psf and it doesn't look like there a string attached.
iudqnolq 6y ago
I normally think overanalyzing where organizations spend their money is misguided, but I was surprised that the largest dollar amount on the infographic was spent "strengthening trademarks". Here's what I found under the details link. Does anyone understand what this actually means? > One major component of the PSF’s mission is protecting Python-related intellectual property. To strengthen the PSF’s trademarks and copyrights for Python, PyCon, and PyPI, the PSF spent over $198,000 USD in 2019 and $77,000 through October 2020.
- maxerickson 6y ago
  It's probably mostly money paid to lawyers (to do various legal tasks associated with maintaining the trademarks).

ilaksh 6y ago

They earned billions and gave $350k? Actually it says $150k for Visionary. If it was 2 billion then they contributed less than 1/500th of what they received.

zelphirkalt 6y ago
Not sure what is so "downvotable" about the parent comment. It merely states a calculation result. Is it factually wrong or something? Anyone care to explain? Personally I would have gone further and called it "peanuts" for Google.

geofft 6y ago

The Python Software Foundation ordinarily raises funds via PyCon sponsorship, but PyCon was online last year and this year and who knows about next year, so in-person booths are much less valuable. Therefore, the PSF has been trying to switch to direct sponsorship. Google has been sponsoring PyCon at a high level for a long time. Also, Google uses Python heavily and employs at least one Python core dev off the top of my head (almost certainly quite a few more), so there are engineers there with a sense of the PSF's finances and enough seniority to influence folks who decide on donations. That's the most obvious angle to explain this. It's a strategic investment - Google cares about Python and they know the PSF needs money.