At my current startup[1], this is exactly what we're trying to address. We built a marketplace for open-source projects, trying to add a business layer around o

At my current startup[1], this is exactly what we're trying to address. We built a marketplace for open-source projects, trying to add a business layer around open-source development, so that developers could work on it full time, and provide the level of support that people require. Proprietary software companies like to point out that while FOSS might be free in distribution, the lack of support means that you pay for it in other ways - and to some extent that's very true. Very few open-source projects get to the point where they can sustain themselves while still giving out their main product for free. I think developers should be able to sustain themselves working on open-source projects, even with relatively small adoption and scope, by treating it like a business. If you don't want to support it - give it for free, if you want to take it to the next level, start charging for distribution. The important thing in my opinion is getting as much quality and useful code out in the open. [1] http://www.binpress.com http://www.binpress.com