OpenSourceFunding

Dear visitor,

We all rely on open-source software every day. It's in our browsers, on the servers that serve our websites, our mobile phones, and even in the websites and software we use. Open-source software enables developers to reuse existing solutions to engineering problems, offload their maintenance to the open-source community and significantly decrease the amount of time and work needed to release new software products.

But it also poses difficult and hotly debated questions: How do we compensate the open-source community for their efforts? How can we ensure open-source projects keep being maintained? Should open-source developers be involved in the commercial success of their projects? And finally: Who really benefits most from open-source software - the community or the companies that make profits from using it?

With this survey, we wanted to find out how you (the open-source community) feel about funding in open-source projects and answer some of the questions above.

We personally want to thank every participant for the time they invested in our survey. We hope the results can amplify the voices of the open-source community, contribute to improving the situation for open-source maintainers, and thus, secure open-source projects in the long term.

Thank you,

Your fellow OpenSourceFunding team

P.S.: Feel free to share this survey with the rest of the world!

Survey

Who do you think benefits most from OpenSource software?

The OpenSource community as a whole Commercially successful companies built on OpenSource technology

What is your role in OpenSource?

I'm a contributor I'm a user

What are your main motivations for contributing to OpenSource projects?

You can select multiple options.

Being part of and giving back to the community Sharing knowledge Advancing my carreer, building a portfolio or reputation Learning new skills and technologies Working on projects I care about

What are your main motivations for using OpenSource software?

You can select multiple options.

It's free to use I trust OpenSource software I have access to the source code I can submit fixes and features which I need I'm not locked in by a vendor

Do you think OpenSource developers should be compensated for the value they create?

Yes No

What do you think is a fair compensation for OpenSource work?

You can select multiple options.

There should be financial compensation The exposure and reputation gained from OpenSource work Working on OpenSource is a reward in itself

Which criteria would you include in determining a fair compensation for OpenSource work?

You can select multiple options.

The amount of time and work that went into the OpenSource project The popularity of the OpenSource project, e.g. by usage The value or benefit the OpenSource project adds

Who do you think should be responsible for compensating OpenSource work?

Every user of OpenSource software Commercial users of OpenSource software

Do you think OpenSource projects and their maintainers and contributors are currently being sufficiently compensated?

Yes No

Which of the existing funding models addresses OpenSource funding needs best?

You can select multiple funding models - or none if you think neither of the models addresses OpenSource funding needs sufficiently.

Donations Crowdfunding Sponsorships Grants

Do you think OpenSource developers should receive a share of the commercial success of products and services that are built on top of their software?

Yes No

Do you think financial compensation for OpenSource contributors would have a positive effect on the OpenSource community and the quality and long-term maintenance of OpenSource software?

Yes No

How long have you been working with OpenSource software?

less than 1 year 1 - 2 years 2 - 5 years 5 - 10 years more than 10 years

How do you use OpenSource software?

You can select multiple options.

In my professional work As a hobby or side project

How frequently do you contribute to OpenSource software on average?

Multiple times per week Multiple times per month Multiple times per year Less than once per year

How do you work?

I'm self-employed I work for a company I'm not employed

Where are you from?

What is your gender?

Male Female Non-Binary/Third Gender Prefer not to say

You have already completed the survey.

The results of the survey will be published here in 30 days. In the meantime, why don't you help to spread the word?

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Survey Results

Who do you think benefits most from OpenSource software?

The OpenSource community as a whole Commercially successful companies built on OpenSource technology

What is your role in OpenSource?

I'm a contributor I'm a user

What are your main motivations for contributing to OpenSource projects?

Being part of and giving back to the community Sharing knowledge Advancing my carreer, building a portfolio or reputation Learning new skills and technologies Working on projects I care about

What are your main motivations for using OpenSource software?

It's free to use I trust OpenSource software I have access to the source code I can submit fixes and features which I need I'm not locked in by a vendor

Do you think OpenSource developers should be compensated for the value they create?

Yes No

What do you think is a fair compensation for OpenSource work?

There should be financial compensation The exposure and reputation gained from OpenSource work Working on OpenSource is a reward in itself

Which criteria would you include in determining a fair compensation for OpenSource work?

The amount of time and work that went into the OpenSource project The popularity of the OpenSource project, e.g. by usage The value or benefit the OpenSource project adds

Who do you think should be responsible for compensating OpenSource work?

Every user of OpenSource software Commercial users of OpenSource software

Do you think OpenSource projects and their maintainers and contributors are currently being sufficiently compensated?

Yes No

Which of the existing funding models addresses OpenSource funding needs best?

Donations Crowdfunding Sponsorships Grants

Do you think OpenSource developers should receive a share of the commercial success of products and services that are built on top of their software?

Yes No

Do you think financial compensation for OpenSource contributors would have a positive effect on the OpenSource community and the quality and long-term maintenance of OpenSource software?

Yes No

How long have you been working with OpenSource software?

less than 1 year 1 - 2 years 2 - 5 years 5 - 10 years more than 10 years

How do you use OpenSource software?

In my professional work As a hobby or side project

How frequently do you contribute to OpenSource software on average?

Multiple times per week Multiple times per month Multiple times per year Less than once per year

How do you work?

I'm self-employed I work for a company I'm not employed

Where do you live?

India Germany United States Spain Brazil Canada France United Kingdom Algeria Argentina Australia Colombia Denmark Indonesia Romania Russian Federation Serbia Slovakia Sweden Thailand United Arab Emirates Vietnam

What is your gender?

Male Female Non-Binary/Third Gender Prefer not to say

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If you make a request, we have one month time to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at our email: contactopensourcefunding@gmail.com

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