HACKER Q&A
📣 harryvederci

Biggest FOSS reward without ruining the project?


This year I intend to launch one of my side projects. If it becomes successful, I want to give the people who made the FOSS projects it depends on a proper reward.

That made me think. Let's take an unrealistic, extreme scenario:

My app turns me into a Jeff Bezos with a conscience. One of the dependencies for my app is made by a single developer. I give them a million dollars. That would probably change their life so much that it may even hurt the project, right? What if they decide to travel the world, and forget about the project?

So my question to you: what would be a good reward, both for the creator and their project?

  👤 version_five Accepted Answer ✓
There are foundations or specific non-profits for that sort of thing, that coordinate funds so they support the project but are not there to enrich or buy-out the contributors. I would give money to then. For example, off the top of my head, Numpy has a foundation you can donate to that already has some big sponsors

Edit:

  NumPy is a Sponsored Project of NumFOCUS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity in the United States. NumFOCUS provides NumPy with fiscal, legal, and administrative support to help ensure the health and sustainability of the project. Visit numfocus.org for more information.
https://numpy.org/about/
👤 Zababa
Don't give money to the developer, give money to the project. For example, create bounties for new features or issues fixed. Try to estimate the development time needed for a feature/bug fix and pay a good rate depending on that.
👤 giantg2
I'd probably give them a little every year. Maybe reach out to them and see what their costs and facilities are like to get an idea of what you feel is appropriate.