3 ms·

Is 500 USD "funding"? The topic of FOSS funding is quite large and actually something where I'm surprised there's not more consulting around. You have governm

Is 500 USD "funding"? The topic of FOSS funding is quite large and actually something where I'm surprised there's not more consulting around. You have government grants. You have university employees. You have company employees of which Google and, indeed, Microsoft have many working solely on open source. You have open core companies (Elastic, Scylla, data bricks, ...). You have self funding and Patreon (not usually sustainable). You have funding via FOSS organizations (python, rust foundation, ...). Did you not know about all these?

rglullis 4y ago
> Is 500 USD "funding"? Does the money come with any strings attached? Are they blocking other companies from pitching in? Your issue is with the amount they are giving, not with the fact that they giving. The way to fix this is not by saying "this is so little, just shove it", the way to fix this is by getting other companies (regardless of their size) to contribute as well. > The topic of FOSS funding is quite large and actually something where I'm surprised there's not more consulting around. Yes, that I completely agree. I am still puzzled at a recent conversation I had here on HN with a self-professed "tech strategy advisor for PE firms" who simply could not understand the possible benefits in looking at the services that a company depends on and in funding open source alternatives.
- fnord123 4y ago
  >Your issue is with the amount they are giving, not with the fact that they giving No, my issues are manifold. With the slice of conversation I'm having with you, the issue I am stressing here is that a one off payment of 500 USD is not "funding" in the sense that someone can quite their job or even go to a 4 day week and shore up their finances with it. It's a one off.
  - rglullis 4y ago
    You mentioned Patreon as an alternative. Do you think that the people supporting with $5/month shouldn't be considered "backers" or "funders"? You also mentioned the FOSS Foundations, like the PSF. Where do you think that their money comes from? I have $25/month sent their way to support the JazzBand devs. Do you think that I should stop my contribution just because it is so small in the grand scheme of things? Of course no one is going to quit their jobs over one company giving $500/year. But I'm failing to see how this is an issue. It's not like MS / Github are announcing they are going to hire all the FOSS devs from all projects they depend on. They just gave some money. Instead of looking at this and thinking "this is BS", why can't we look at this and think "Oh, nice! If even shitty companies like MS are starting to help, how can we get the better ones to do it too?"
    - toastal 4y ago
      Patreon takes so much of a cut. I don't think this is the route, neither do I think letting Microsoft/GitHub take over the space is the alternative.

rglullis 4y ago

> Is 500 USD "funding"? Does the money come with any strings attached? Are they blocking other companies from pitching in? Your issue is with the amount they are giving, not with the fact that they giving. The way to fix this is not by saying "this is so little, just shove it", the way to fix this is by getting other companies (regardless of their size) to contribute as well. > The topic of FOSS funding is quite large and actually something where I'm surprised there's not more consulting around. Yes, that I completely agree. I am still puzzled at a recent conversation I had here on HN with a self-professed "tech strategy advisor for PE firms" who simply could not understand the possible benefits in looking at the services that a company depends on and in funding open source alternatives.

fnord123 4y ago
>Your issue is with the amount they are giving, not with the fact that they giving No, my issues are manifold. With the slice of conversation I'm having with you, the issue I am stressing here is that a one off payment of 500 USD is not "funding" in the sense that someone can quite their job or even go to a 4 day week and shore up their finances with it. It's a one off.
- rglullis 4y ago
  You mentioned Patreon as an alternative. Do you think that the people supporting with $5/month shouldn't be considered "backers" or "funders"? You also mentioned the FOSS Foundations, like the PSF. Where do you think that their money comes from? I have $25/month sent their way to support the JazzBand devs. Do you think that I should stop my contribution just because it is so small in the grand scheme of things? Of course no one is going to quit their jobs over one company giving $500/year. But I'm failing to see how this is an issue. It's not like MS / Github are announcing they are going to hire all the FOSS devs from all projects they depend on. They just gave some money. Instead of looking at this and thinking "this is BS", why can't we look at this and think "Oh, nice! If even shitty companies like MS are starting to help, how can we get the better ones to do it too?"
  - toastal 4y ago
    Patreon takes so much of a cut. I don't think this is the route, neither do I think letting Microsoft/GitHub take over the space is the alternative.