We often say that open source is free as in you are free to contribute, NOT as in you are entitled to commercial-grade support for free.
Using open source tools? Requesting enhancements or bug fixes? My friend, we need to talk.
Supporting open source commercially is the sensible thing to do for several reasons. First, it helps ensure the long-term sustainability of the tools you rely on. When developers receive financial support, they can dedicate more time to maintaining and improving the software, which directly benefits your business.
Second, commercial support often means faster response times and prioritized bug fixes. Rather than waiting on community volunteers to address your issue, you have access to dedicated experts who can resolve problems swiftly.
Lastly, it’s a way to give back. Open-source software often forms the backbone of many companies' operations. Supporting these projects financially is a way to contribute to the ecosystem that allows your business to thrive.
So would you ask your company to subscribe to a commercial support contract for an open source library you are using? Or does your company allow you to spend time supporting the tool with bug fixes or enhancements yourself? If not, why not?
Many open-source libraries propose ways to support or sponsor their work. For those I am involved with directly:
- If you’re using Serenity BDD, you can explore the commercial support packages here:?https://lnkd.in/eyND2ipR
- If you are using Serenity/JS, you can become a sponsor here: https://lnkd.in/eKKhiKuJ
#OpenSource #SoftwareDevelopment #DeveloperCommunity #Sustainability #CommercialSupport #SerenityBDD
Software Engineer
5 个月This is very important, considering the challenges facing open-source software these days. ?? #OpenSourcePledge