#poll Have you ever paid for software when it was optional to do so?
EDIT: If you only occasionally pay for software when it is optional, please reply with what sorts of software you typically do and don't pay for.
I think it is probably safe to call it here. The overwhelming majority of you support the development of software you use to varying degrees of "sometimes", which is pretty cool.
From the replies to this thread, I gather it's relatively common for people to only support projects that are already relatively mature and popular, which is an interesting chicken and egg problem. Also you don't get anything if you don't ask, but it works better if the asking doesn't feel extractive. Not surprising
@aeva on the other hand, the vast majority of those projects are software that you couldn't give money to even if yuo did want to. so its not really optional if theres no option.
but, its hard to say how much of the software on my computer *does* have that option, so im not sure how the ratio works out accounting for that
@aeva I think part of the problem regarding system dependencies is most people don't tend to think about them until they break, or there's something wrong.
Sort of like how we don't pay much mind to who processed/manufactured the cement, wood, bolts, screws, wire, etc. that piece together most of the physical things around us.
There's a seemingly insurmountable disconnection once networks of people and their collective work grow beyond a certain scope of breadth, depth, or complexity. In this problem, software runs on software runs on software. Eventually you get to metal, but after how many layers? Calls?
This problem extends to any structure of people. If there's a hierarchy of people, labor, parts, or goods - and there always is - you'll find this issue of increasingly absent awareness and accountability.
I have no solution, but I couldn't help but chew on it for a bit. It's a mirror image of some other problems we face today.
@hipsterelectron @aeva i can probably answer, having been in some rooms earlier this year advocating for better use of this money.
There is a limited budget, and some of it got cut short because member state refused to refill the Commission coffins. On top of that, some money going to the hype fad of the month kinda make sense.
The money need to come from somewhere, and the RoI and impact of that program was always dubious, while being small at the same time.
So... Yep. Move the money.
@hipsterelectron @aeva note that I am a strong defender of public money for foss and more of it for infrastructure stuff.
That said, the NGI stuff has always been really wet fingers in term of investment decisions. And definitely not well aligned with needs.
Not a reason to cut it all, obviously, but probably did not help its case.
@hipsterelectron @aeva definitely part of the problem yes (let's not even talk of the FAA). I think in software it is "worse" in that funding to bring research to industry, the D in R&D, basically never existed. Hobbyist through opensource tried to compense the vacuum and it kinda worked. To a point.
But we have a far larger systemic problem there.
@aeva I like to work on libraries and you're right - nobody seems to fund them. One library I maintain is used by several multi-million/billion dollar companies and they haven't contributed one iota - no patches, no documentation, no issue submission, and certainly no funding.
That (& AI companies willfully ignoring licenses) has me really jaded & I've pulled back from open source contributions after 30+ years.
(Struck a nerve - apologies for rant. 👺)
@aeva @ackack IME large companies are the least likely to give you anything they don’t have to; even if the employees there wanted to, the internal processes around invoicing basically rule it out unless it’s to official charitable foundations (and can therefore be a tax write off). You’re more likely to die of old age than get through the bureaucracy.
I ended up putting large companies at the bottom of my priority list, they’re dead weight compared to small indies who always wanted to help
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