In business: Keeping free software sustainable
Who am I?
- Denver Gingerich - https://ossguy.com/
- copyleft compliance work at Software Freedom Conservancy
- but most of my time is spent on Soprani.ca / JMP(.chat)
- ossguy on all the things
Do free s/w businesses matter?
yes, they do matter!
most contributors to free software are volunteer
often works ok, but burnout and limited time kills many projects
of the few that are paid, most work at large for-profit companies
relatively few are paid to work on free software by NPOs, SMBs
donations sometimes work, but people react better to "costs $N"
My story: JMP
what is JMP?
why I chose to make JMP
why I chose to make JMP free software
how JMP makes money
Business model 1: subscription
sell accounts on a free software instance
much easier with service people used to paying for (i.e. phone)
but need people offering/willing to pay for others (i.e. email)
possible options: bundling, like ISPs used to do with email
examples: ProtonMail, account.conversations.im, JMP
Model 2: libre non-gratis
sell copies of software, but using libre software license
give people the source - use non-CLA copyleft so promise is clear
unfortunately often relies on non-free stores, doesn't have to
examples: Conversations (Android), games, OsmAnd+ (Android)
Model 3: shipped in hardware
sell copies of hardware, which happen to include software
hardware priced such that it covers cost of software development
like certain other models, easier since people are used to paying
examples: all RYF, Replicant phone, Bit Reader USB, etc.
Other business models
consulting - build features customers ask for, release code
training - show customers how to use s/w, improve per feedback
crowdfunding - examples: Krita, OpenShot, etc.
recap: subscription, libre non-gratis, shipped in hardware
Would you pay for software under one of these models?
alternative: run your own, find volunteer-run, use proprietary/ads
- for business model 1: subscription
if easy to use credit card, GNU Taler, cryptocurrency: F-Droid/APT
- for business model 2: libre non-gratis
you likely already pay for hardware with free s/w - consider RYF
- for business model 3: free software shipped in hardware
Would you start one of these? With free software businesses...
people will often volunteer to help, especially with small business
people have more reasons to use it (less lock-in, no competitors!)
we build a society where the currency is not privacy invasion
it just feels better
Addendum: What do I work on and how do I fund it?
what are you interested in?
start small
launch early and iterate
charge money from the start
Conclusion
want to make free software projects we rely on sustainable
by giving contributors the time(=money) they need: less burnout
build a business: subscription, libre non-gratis, part of hardware
we need a mindset change: don't just buy hardware, buy s/w too
buying software is not a dirty thing to do!
- unless it's proprietary
Questions?
JMP - https://jmp.chat/
Denver Gingerich - https://ossguy.com/
the slides:
- https://ossguy.com/talks/20180324_libreplanet/
- the source code for this talk is available here
- these slides are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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