Member-only story
Monetizing open-source development and supporting the community
I was recently interviewed by a popular .NET podcast and we ended up discussing how to get companies to support the open-source community. So here’s me calling all developers and tech enthusiasts! It’s time to take action and support the open-source projects that drive innovation and empower so many projects. I invite you to join me in an attempt to monetize open-source development and ensuring the sustainability of these valuable initiatives. As the creator of Fluent Assertions, a popular .NET open-source project that has crossed 250 million downloads on nuget.org, I understand firsthand the impact and challenges of maintaining open source. Together, I hope we can make a difference and foster a thriving open-source ecosystem.
Requesting financial support from your organization
Let’s start by approaching our managers or CTOs and requesting financial support for open-source projects. Highlight the benefits of investing in open-source, such as improved software quality, enhanced security, and the opportunity to collaborate with a vibrant developer community. I encourage you to share the success stories of open-source projects like Fluent Assertions, xUnit or Identity Server, demonstrating the tangible value they bring to organizations. Urge your company to consider donating a portion of their budget each month to support these projects and the wider ecosystem.