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Discussion on: Compensating open source developers via GitHub Sponsors. Good or bad?

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codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald • Edited

I'm of the opinion that just because you are doing work on open source software doesn't mean you shouldn't be compensated. I know some people don't agree with me on this though.

Actually...I find it more than slightly alarming that anyone would believe that working on open source means you automatically shouldn't get compensated.

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thtmnisamnstr profile image
Gavin

That is an old, dying argument. The bigger argument against it from a company perspective that I've heard now is that you're paying for contributors. Like trying to bump your numbers, not build a real community, which I think is nonsense.

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Jason C. McDonald • Edited

...as if paying someone automatically negates any social contribution they might have otherwise brought.

Yeah, the arguments against compensating open source developers strikes me as straw man arguments to conceal a sense of entitlement. "I want this software for free-as-in-free-beer, without any danger of my having to pay you for your work." But they won't say that, so they have to fabricate something.