[auslegung]

> OSS funding is a hard problem. OSS was best when it wasn't funded at all.

“Best” is subjective yet I don’t disagree. But what you don’t mention, which I think is important to mention here, is the proliferation of OSS that other vital, closed source software (often monetized) depends upon. OSS has always powered vital software, I’m just making the point that it’s increasingly, alarmingly common.

“Alarming” because the OSS developers often feel they should be compensated if their work is monetized and/or powers other vital software. There is a license for this, but it’s difficulty and complicated to enforce. And it’s not surprising for someone to license their work as “do whatever you want with it” at first, only to change their mind later when they see it used in FAANG products. But then it’s too late, and bitterness and anger creep in.

Take the anger and bitterness of a generation+ of OSS developers and you have our current predicament :(