The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Building the Patreon for developers (Interview)
May 15, 2024
Birk Jernström, founder of Polar and former founder of Ticktell, discusses his innovative creator platform designed specifically for developers. He shares the inspiration behind Polar and the urgent need for sustainable funding models in the open-source community. The conversation dives into unique monetization strategies, the journey from initial donations to potential IPOs, and the balancing act between financial autonomy and responsibility. Birk also reflects on user experience and innovative funding solutions tailored for developers.
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Origin Story
- Birk Jernström's interest in computers began when he discovered "view page source" at age 10.
- This sparked his passion for programming, fostered by his stepdad and online code-sharing communities.
Polar's Genesis
- Birk Jernström's "aha" moment for Polar came after using the Authlib library on GitHub.
- He was shocked by its low sponsorship despite its high value, sparking him to improve open-source funding.
Polar's Toolkit Approach
- Polar offers diverse monetization tools, including donations, sponsorships, memberships, and issue funding.
- This approach lets developers choose what fits their project and stage of development.