Open source has a funding problem
Would you work for free? It is a simple but loaded question that requires additional context. Is it working to help a friend do something? Is it work that you would enjoy? Does the act of working for free give you some level of satisfaction? Your gut reaction to the question may have been a hearty, “No,” but many people volunteer for a variety of things all the time, so people will work for free when there is something in it they enjoy.
Open source development could be looked at as a form of volunteering. Many developers have donated their time to either maintain or contribute to open source projects. These developers may not care about being compensated for their time—they are just happy for the experience, challenge or may just like helping others.
Developers that do this for nothing more than a pat on the back are great, however, it can be difficult to rely upon for the open source ecosystem at large. Time commitments are likely the single largest issue at play here, as developers are often working on these projects in their spare time. Between work, sleep, and hanging out with friends and family, having a steady stream of volunteer commitment to a project can be difficult. This issue is magnified depending on the project itself and the skillsets required to do large, meaningful contributions.
