Open Source Needs a New Business Model – What if AI Could Help?

Maintaining an open-source project is tough. Finding a sustainable way to fund it? Even tougher.

I’ve been running Typemill, a small flat-file CMS for publishing documentation and handbooks, for eight years now. Last year, I introduced paid plugins as a way to support development. It hasn't worked well. Let’s be honest – competing with massive plugin ecosystems is nearly impossible for smaller projects.

But maybe a massive plugin ecosystem won’t even matter in the future.

What if we rethink the model?

When ChatGPT first launched, I immediately tried using it to generate Typemill plugins. It failed badly, probably because Typemill is too small and niche for the AI to understand.

But things are evolving.

AI-assisted software generation is already making waves – just look at Lovable and similar tools. These services are already shifting the paradigm from "buy" to "make" in many companies. Open-source software could serve as a perfect foundation for such custom solutions.

What if, instead of selling pre-built plugins, open-source projects offered AI-powered customization services?

• Users get exactly what they need, tailored to their setup – without waiting for developers to create and sell the perfect plugin.
• Open-source maintainers get a sustainable revenue stream beyond traditional donations or sponsorships.

If I Could Build the Perfect Service...

Imagine an AI-powered open-source development service that works like a software reseller (e.g., Paddle):

• Maintainers set up an AI coding assistant, trained specifically for their project.
• Users pay to access AI-generated customizations, making it easier to adapt the software to their needs.
• The open-source project earns revenue while staying lean and flexible.

Could this work?

Honestly, I don’t know, and we are probably not at this point yet. But it feels like a model worth exploring. AI-assisted coding is improving fast, and this approach could make open-source projects more adaptable, financially viable, and easier to maintain.

What do you think? Have you seen services like this? Let’s discuss!