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Comment by gavinhoward | Hacker News Reader

I am not an Open Source developer that needs funding.

I just created a business, an LLC, to develop my software. I did this on purpose so that companies would have an entity to send money to if they use my software.

I've heard that developers and managers at companies do want to give money to FOSS projects, but sending money to an individual is fraught with peril. Sending money to another company that can generate invoices and give some services? Much easier to justify.

If possible, I suggest developers of popular FOSS projects do this. If you include my search for a good bank, I've spent probably 20 hours doing this. (I used lawyers as well, but that's not required.) Spending 20 hours to have some way to receive money may be worth it.

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I support this claim. However, you have to take into account that a company carries some liability which not all FOSS developer want to have.

I personally, have a few open source projects that were born out of my personal need. On one hand, I'm happy to share it for free and don't expect any payment, since I would have developed those tools anyway. Sharing it is only my way to give back to the community, and it carries very small effort on my behalf.

On the other hand, if you make money from a software that uses my tool, it would be kind of you to share your success somehow (sponsoring a product is just one way. Another is contributing code, for example)

Yes, this is also something developers should consider when making the decision.

Have you had much success with this model? Is your income no-strings-attached, do you provide support or just maintain the software? How do you find companies that just want to give you free money?

I just started the company, so I can't answer those questions unfortunately.

I'm timing the start of my business activities with the bottom of the economy so that bad companies will be gone and existing companies will be opening their wallets again.

If it would be wanted, I'll do a Q&A on HN if I succeed.

Edit: When I do get income, it won't be no-strings-attached; I will be providing services. However, my contract has an explicit provision that I retain full control of the software.

Some services I will provide include:

* Responding to bug reports. (I will straight up ignore and delete bug reports from non-customers.)

* Limited liability.

* Integrating my software into a customer's software.

* Answering questions about my software to customer employees.

If a customer asks for a different service, I'll probably consider that too.

> I will straight up ignore and delete bug reports from non-customers.

Wouldn’t it be more helpful to leave the reports but not work on them actively? It might be that a paying customer finds the same bug anyway.

I meant that I would delete them from public view. I would investigate them for sure.

Definitely do a HN Q&A once you are ready.

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