The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source How companies are sponsoring OSS (Interview)
May 10, 2023
In this insightful discussion, Chad Whitacre from Sentry and Alyssa Wright from Bloomberg dive into the world of open source software sponsorship. They emphasize the importance of corporate support for maintainers and explore innovative funding initiatives like the FOSS Contributor Fund. The duo highlights strategies for fostering community involvement and sustainable contributions. They also touch on the transition from CentOS to Rocky Linux, advocating for responsible corporate participation in open-source projects. It’s a vital conversation for anyone passionate about the future of software development!
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Hacker News Moderation
- Chad Whitaker aimed for consistent blog post titles about Sentry's open-source contributions.
- Hacker News moderators removed his post, deeming it self-congratulatory.
Indeed's FOSS Contributor Fund
- Indeed launched the FOSS Contributor Fund in 2019, a framework for sponsoring open-source projects.
- Bloomberg and Sentry adopted variations of this model, highlighting its influence.
Start Small, Grow Big
- Start open-source funding with a manageable amount, even if small.
- Gradually increase contributions as your organization grows, aiming for a percentage of revenue.
