Open Source Developers Are Exhausted, Unpaid, and Ready to Walk Away (itsfoss.com)
from Cyber@feddit.uk to selfhosted@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 07:20
https://feddit.uk/post/39770991

cross-posted from: discuss.tchncs.de/post/49194514

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smeg@infosec.pub on 19 Nov 07:58 next collapse

For example, the developer of asus-linux.org who made the kernel contributions for Asus ROG laptops and the accompanying ROG Control Center recently walked away, due to exhaustion.

simonlm@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 08:04 next collapse

I read this blog post yesterday and it was insightful.

Seems like we could solve multiple problems in one go here…

nik9000@programming.dev on 19 Nov 14:13 collapse

I liked the article. It sung to my heart. I’ve been in this world for a while. Lived through the failure and hyperacalars just taking without giving back.

I don’t know what to think. But I’m not happy with where we are and it’s nice to hear someone else talking about it.

themurphy@lemmy.ml on 19 Nov 10:16 next collapse

If only there was a way to fund open source projects so we both could have better software for the world and paid employees…

I think you can guess which government body already do this. Just take a shot.

sj_zero@lotide.fbxl.net on 19 Nov 10:49 next collapse

Big question is: how many of us are funding foss projects?

It isn't difficult, and with how popular some are, it wouldn't be long before the projects could hire one or more full time devs at good rates.

I support a few big projects I use every month through liberapay.

vatlark@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 12:12 next collapse

Liberapay is really nice. I like the payment options they have to minimize the fees, like making 2 years of small “monthly” payments in a single charge to your bank card.

GreatBlueHeron@lemmy.ca on 19 Nov 12:16 next collapse

I think the bigger question is how many corporations are supporting foss projects? I’m sure a lot of us contribute a bit here and there if we can and I’m sure it makes a difference - but if some of these corporations, making billions of dollars profit, contribute just a tiny fraction of their wealth it could make a huge difference.

It’s the same argument as recycling, turning off lights, walking instead of driving etc. etc. - yes there are 8 billion of us and if we all do it, it will make a difference, but the difference we make is still not significant compared to corporate greed.

We are being gaslit to accept yet another scenario where we socialize the cost and privatize the profit.

Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 19 Nov 12:34 next collapse

Then they would just be paid but exhausted

non_burglar@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 13:43 collapse

Love the enthusiasm, but let’s stop casting this as an end-user-only problem. The real issue is, once again, large corporations using and taking advantage of oss while putting ZERO money or work back into oss. It’s victim blaming with extra steps, and us blaming each other is exactly what the real culprits want.

If it makes us feel better that we can pay on a regulsr basis for these things, great. But massive oss projects can’t thrive on a few of us donating.

sj_zero@lotide.fbxl.net on 19 Nov 10:49 collapse

Big question is: how many of us are funding foss projects?

It isn't difficult, and with how popular some are, it wouldn't be long before the projects could hire one or more full time devs at good rates.

I support a few big projects I use every month through liberapay.

Blackmist@feddit.uk on 19 Nov 13:38 next collapse

So are closed source developers.

papertowels@mander.xyz on 19 Nov 14:30 collapse

But at least they’re paid

modus@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 13:57 collapse

I don’t understand much about the finances of the FOSS world, but do companies like FUTO help at all? I don’t even know how FUTO makes money, to be honest.