Forgive me but this part of the open source and foss confuses me. If you code and release an open source and free piece of software like say, a robust video player such as VLC, how is that dev being paid?

Because in my eyes (I’m not too privy to FOSS ins and outs)

I’m basically getting your software for free of no charge, it IS free as in free beer cos you’re not asking ME to pay it for so who is paying YOU?

Does it come via donations or wealthy corporations like Red Hat and Microsoft pay or fund open sourced projects that is given to the hard working developers of that OSS/FOSS project?

  • AA5B@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    My company hired at least one open source guy. The original code is internal to our company and he’s allowed work time to maintain it

    • radix@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      That’s impressive. Is it still licensed under a libre copyleft license? Surely that’s too good to be true.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Yes, the company does not own the license, theoretically has the same rights as anyone. And the source is replicated to externally

        From my perspective, it was really annoying to discover. I’m going through everything with scanners, trying to get tools and languages up to date and mitigate known vulnerabilities, but he did not want to bring his code up to date. I get that the company doesn’t own it, but I’m giving you company time to get your stuff up to date.