Sustaining Open Source and Building an Open Company (Interview)

Crowdfunding

Chad Whitacre introduces the concept of sustainable crowdfunding through Gittip, a platform designed to support open source developers and other creatives. The platform allows users to give small, recurring gifts to those whose work they admire, aiming to provide a steady income stream for contributors. Whitacre emphasizes the importance of making a living through Gittip, not just for the well-known figures but for all contributors, and discusses features like group funding and tax implications to enhance the platform's sustainability 1 2.

The goal is for people to make a living through get it, not just the quote unquote rockstars.

--- Chad Whitacre

He also highlights the platform's evolution to include companies and projects, aiming for a broader impact beyond individual contributions 3.

   

Contributions

The discussion shifts to how companies and individuals can contribute to open source projects through platforms like Gittip. Kenneth Reitz, who brought Heroku on board, highlights the importance of corporate contributions to open source, suggesting that companies should regularly support developers whose code they use 4. This initiative not only supports developers but also inspires other companies to follow suit, as seen with MaxCDN joining the effort 5.

The goal was to try to, you know, lead the way so other companies would start doing the same.

--- Kenneth Reitz

Whitacre discusses the challenges of expanding this model to include non-developer roles, emphasizing the need for a community-driven approach to open source contributions 6.

   

Community

Building a supportive community is central to sustaining open source projects. Whitacre stresses that Gittip is not just a platform but a community effort, where everyone contributes to its growth and success 7. He acknowledges the complexities and uncertainties involved in pioneering such a model, noting the potential for community input to address challenges like legal and financial issues 8.

I'm not building Gittip; I'm building a community that's building Gittip.

--- Chad Whitacre

The platform's design encourages ongoing support rather than one-time donations, reflecting the recurring nature of both financial needs and creative contributions 9.