this post was submitted on 30 Apr 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Probably better to think of spending their money on an open ecosystem, instead of just using something for "free". If software products have sufficient funding they can better improve the products and can continue to exist - without some form of monetisation most wouldn't still be around.
I believe it's a chicken and an egg problem.
If free software projects had more users, those users would improve the software further with donations, patches, and bug reports.
Wow, do I have some stories for you.
But in short, there's a lot of FOSS software that people use every day without knowing about it.
And it gets no funding, because why it should.
Companies making 9+ figures have issues sending even a $1000 to an open project that they depend heavily on.
But Microsoft/Oracle/VMWare/Google licenses? That money just shoots out like from a cannon.
Even if those products are not 100% needed and can be replaced.
I think both can be true. I just mean if we're talking about a company paying for Microsoft Office vs LibreOffice.
No.
There is enough LibreOffice users to realize that the curve of the donations over users isn't proportional.
When was the last time you donated?
Exactly.
Dealing with people like you is exhausting.
Easy ignore, though.