Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/19/kelsey_hightower_civo/
Source: The Register
Title: Kelsey Hightower: If governments rely on FOSS, they should fund it
Feedly Summary: Kubernetes doyen talks to The Reg about keeping coders coding
Interview Acclaimed engineer Kelsey Hightower, who stopped coding for money in 2023, remains an influential figure in the world of software, and he’s proposing something that might stir up the open source community.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
**Summary:**
The interview with Kelsey Hightower discusses innovative approaches to funding open source projects and the necessity of government involvement in sustaining critical digital infrastructure akin to public utilities. He asserts that traditional funding models, often reliant on venture capital, are inadequate for open-source projects. Insightfully, Hightower draws parallels between open source and public goods, suggesting that governments could play a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability of vital software projects.
**Detailed Description:**
Kelsey Hightower, a well-known figure in the software engineering community, highlights the challenges faced by open source projects in securing adequate funding. The discussion touches on the potential for new funding models that could help maintain essential digital infrastructure.
– **Funding Challenges:**
– Open source maintainers often receive inadequate compensation despite their crucial role in the software landscape.
– Companies typically invest heavily in cloud services but shortchange open-source development.
– **Potential Solutions:**
– Hightower suggests the emergence of diverse funding models, including:
– Government-funded open source initiatives viewed as a public good.
– Managed service models where open source projects can sustain themselves through initial investment.
– Subsidy frameworks similar to those for utilities like water and internet services.
– **Government Involvement:**
– The notion that governments should fund and support essential open source projects, similar to how they subsidize utilities, is central to Hightower’s argument.
– Examples include database projects, like PostgreSQL, which Hightower posits as critical to modern infrastructure and deserving of public funding.
– **Parallels with Sports and Public Funding:**
– Hightower compares open-source funding to the Olympic model, where consistent investment supports athletes and ensures ongoing success.
– He believes a systematic approach to sponsoring open source developers could lead to sustained innovation.
– **Industry Insights:**
– Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK, echoes the sentiment that open source should be treated as a digital public good requiring public sector funding.
– Peter Zaitsev from Percona stresses that governmental investment in open source must come with clear expectations to ensure effective use of public funds.
– **Call to Action for Enterprises:**
– Enterprises are urged to contribute more significantly to open-source projects by encouraging private and government investment partnerships.
– The establishment of foundational control over funded projects could ensure longevity and sustainability while preventing exploitative practices from venture capitalists.
In summary, the conversation prompts a reevaluation of how open source is funded and stresses the importance of a shift toward models that ensure its sustainability as critical digital infrastructure, advocating for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors.