Sink or Swim, Indies Plunging Into Open Source
June 19, 2012
Some independent software developers are taking the big plunge into open source according to the article, “Independent Software Developers Go Full Time with Open Source.” It’s time to sink or swim, but if they succeed, it may start a new trend in the indie scene.
Lunduke, a Washington state based developer is getting $4000 a month in gaming subscriptions for his site. He feels those subscriptions along with community contributions should provide him with enough income to continue developing freelance. He plans on open sourcing all of the applications and games on his site under the GPL.
Patrick Verner in Wisconsin developed Parted Magic as an open source, multi-platform partitioning tool. In contrast to Lundukes financial needs, Verner requested just $1,200 a month to pay bills and cover life expenses.
“While many software developers get paid to work on open source by their employer or volunteer their time for free to various FOSS projects, some end up deciding to quit their day jobs to work on free and open source software (FOSS) full time. That’s exactly what Bryan Lunduke and Patrick Verner are now doing and they’re both hoping that the respective communities for their projects will help to support their efforts financially. “
Despite added expenses and challenges, these entrepreneurs are going for their dreams. This is a big step forward for young developers. These guys diving right in shows the world that it is possible for a close source indie developer to go open source successfully with help and communal support. Move over big IT, the Indies are plunging straight into open source, no life jackets.
Jennifer Shockley, June 19, 2012
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