How to Fix Open Source Sustainability

Explore the complexities of open source sustainability in this comprehensive talk by Chad Whitacre, Head of Open Source at Sentry. Delve into Whitacre's background in the Python community and his experiences with open source sustainability. Gain insights into the importance of community in open source, the origins of the free software movement, and the impact of Richard Stallman. Examine Sentry's commitment to open source and their efforts to support maintainers through initiatives like Thanks.dev. Investigate the tension between startup growth and giving back to the open-source community. Analyze ethical dilemmas in open source, including re-licensing and balancing community and corporate interests. Learn about fair source licensing and its potential to address sustainability issues. Discuss the role of foundations in supporting open source projects and the challenges of funding open source within market dynamics. Consider potential solutions for creating a sustainable ecosystem where developers can be fairly compensated for their work.

Chad Whitacre
Introduction and Background
The Importance of Open Source and Community
Sentry's Commitment to Open Source
Supporting Open Source with Thanks.dev
The Tension Between Startup Growth and Giving Back to Open Source
The Ethical Dilemmas of Open Source and Re-Licensing
Balancing Community and Corporation in the Open-Source Ecosystem
Fair Source Licensing
Introducing Fair Source
Transitioning from BST to BSL
Balancing Developer Sustainability and User Freedom
The Value of the In-Between
Defining Open Source
Negotiating Fair Compensation
The Role of Foundations
Foundations as Community Stewards
Jumping Through Hoops: The Current Approach to Funding Open Source
Fair Source: A Potential Solution for Sustainable Funding
Joining the Funding Cabal: Supporting Open Source Projects
Creating a Sustainable Ecosystem for Fair Compensation