

Funding OSS with Mozilla Open Source Support awards (Interview)
Mar 13, 2019
Mehan Jayasuriya, a Program Officer at Mozilla's Open Source Support (MOSS), dives into the world of funding for open source projects. He discusses MOSS's role in supporting over 40 projects in 2018 and highlights the importance of direct monetary support for technical development. The conversation touches on the challenges of securing funding, the structured grants management process, and innovative approaches like 'speed dating' events to connect projects with resources. Mehan emphasizes the need for diversity and collaboration in the open source community.
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Funding Gap
- Many foundations support open source but rarely fund core development work.
- Mozilla's MOSS program aims to fill this gap by directly funding developers.
libjpg-turbo Audit
- Mozilla funded a security audit for libjpg-turbo which uncovered two bugs.
- These bugs were in the underlying JPEG standard, impacting critical internet infrastructure.
MOSS Application Process
- Apply for MOSS grants with a concise, one-page application.
- Mozilla offers a lightweight process, recognizing that many open-source developers are unfamiliar with grant applications.