• Off-Topic

  • Pursuing Open Source Full-Time Development

Hey everyone,

I'm posting this in off-topic because it isn't strictly related to Solus, but I've decided to create a Patreon to pursue the goal of working on open source, desktop-focused software. It's become more obvious to me over the last several years that we're seeing various major players in the open source community shifting to "responsive design", mobile-focused applications, which actively regress in functionality and usability for home computing usage. Sophisticated desktop applications that don't shy away from putting features and functionality at your fingertips is something I intend to develop.

I want to emphasize that this is me pursuing open source development full-time. Solus is not a formal, legal entity and is not accepting donations. When both @DataDrake and myself are in the position to create such entity, we will. That being said, my ability to work on open source full-time will benefit Solus, and this personal Patreon was opened with the full support of Bryan.

    Fully agree! Everything seems to be about smartphone apps nowadays, leaving desktop behind. Personally, I abhorr working on my 'smart' phone or even iPad, because a) interface is not reliable, error prone and b) too small for human hands. Long live the (Open Source) Desktop! 😁

    I just put out my first "Gaining Insight" poll to Patrons! These polls will help me gain insight on how other folks use software, enabling me to have a data-driven, user-focused approach to development and the software we will be creating together. I'd like to think this sort of data-driven approach will be refreshing to folks after the years of dealing with other software developers removing features and functionality with no objective reasons that can be quantifiable 😛

    You and the team make Solus great to us on daily basis. A reasonable monthly donation is the least I can do.

      onemoz Thank you for your support. Any financial contribution, big or small, is truly meaningful to me, and it all adds up. The way I look at it, in my opinion, was perfectly framed by David Mitchell in Cloud Atlas when talking about life.

      "My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?"

          I'm glad you had an option for those of modest means; it's appreciated. On it.
          Please assure us---when you make your monthly goal---that you will be creating that great open source file manager in the world you've alluded to in the past!

          I would definitely support you. Maybe not so much, but I would be happy to help you with your personal goal.

          JoshStrobl Just joined your patreon - love what you do. After years shying away from the desktop, I'm increasingly a desktop type of guy - anti unity or anti where Mac appears to be headed. Over the last few years I'm investing more in my desktop and home office environment. It is so much more relaxing. Given what you've done with Budgie, can't wait to see what you put together.

            JoshStrobl
            Is this

            File management via a new graphical file manager, with features such as multi-pane, batch file management, file and folder tagging, and more.

            what I think it is, a polite way to say "It's time for Nautilus to die screaming" ?
            Because I'll happily pay for that (and in the meantime, I'm happily paying for everything else in the list).

                CorvusRuber what I think it is, a polite way to say "It's time for Nautilus to die screaming" ?

                Yes. A million times yes 😃

                Thank you to everyone that has signed up for the Patreon. Every dollar, euro, etc. helps and all your generosity knows no bounds.

                  I appreciate your stance on desktop software, and I've been thinking about music software a lot recently (all the programs I've tried have been lacking) so I'm happy to chip in!

                  That's really nice. But I'm a little surprised that you would work full time for just 800€. Isn't Norway pretty expensive?

                    kaktuspalme But I'm a little surprised that you would work full time for just 800€.

                    After taxes and YEL (self-employed persons) insurance it's a fair bit less than what I'd probably need, but I'd rather make less but work on open source software, with contributions coming from Patrons, than not being able to work full-time on open source. Plus I'm married and the wife is quite supportive of my move to working on open source (and more on Solus) full-time when funding allows.

                    Will I be happy if we get over the 800€ mark? Heck yea. But I wanted to set some realistic goals first.

                    I imagine I'll be working closer to full-time even before we hit that mark (I want to show Patrons and potential Patrons that I mean business when it comes to delivering code), but I need to finish up some old contract work before I can do that 🙂

                      JoshStrobl On top of that, if we want to keep Solus being updated and have the features we would like to see, sponsoring you for working on it full time is the best way we could 🙂

                        7 days later