Comments on: Is There Money in Open Source?

By: Michael Tiemann

Michael Tiemann — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:07:59 +0000

I started the world’s first open source software company, Cygnus Support, in 1989. I made money in open source when we were a private company, when we sold it to Red Hat in January 2000, and since then, working for Red Hat.

By: Irina B.

Irina B. — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:36:12 +0000

There’s an interesting blog post by Linux Journal about emerging app store model in Drupal: http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/drupalcon-rocked-chicago

By: Freebious

Freebious — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:25:07 +0000

The only reason I’m building dynamic websites is the availability of open source scripts.

By: echo

echo — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:10:01 +0000

so, dont afraid to contribute an open source project :)

By: Audrius Jankauskas

Audrius Jankauskas — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:32:50 +0000

Nice article. Key elements are put together correctly. Would be interesting to see more comprehensive list of marketplaces. Each has different ideas and structure behind it. Beside Android Market, GetJar also should be mentioned.

By: Michael Tuck

Michael Tuck — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 02:18:07 +0000

Ask people like Linus Torvalds, Clay Shirky, and Jono Bacon. Open source is a great way to make money in a forward-looking, less carnivorously market-based way.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:56:56 +0000

Opensource software is a tool not a business. There is just as much money, if not more in opensource software development. The cost to client is much lower than any other software, you are allowed to repackage and rebrand the OSS software as you see fit with no restrictive rules. Yes there is money to be made in OSS.

By: David

David — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:45:49 +0000

It’s an interesting debate all i know is that there is definitely money to be made developing with the open source platforms.

By: OSLiving

OSLiving — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:06:49 +0000

This is a topic I hold close to heart and one that I’ve been blogging about, particularly with regard to WordPress. There are two main models when it comes to monetization of FOSS. Freemium and app stores. The one offers services over and above the software (support, modifications, consultancy work etc.) and the other commodifies core software add-ons. In both cases the core software files remain under FOSS license and develop laterally through community input. It’s interesting to note that the major platforms have been able to survive in part because they have found a way for their development communities to make a living from their popularity.

By: A Web Developer

A Web Developer — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:09:24 +0000

There are quite a few ways to commercialize on (or with) open-source.

I provide an Apache, PHP, MySQL based software product called WampDeveloper (which is a LAMP-type distribution — except it’s for Windows).

To be successful here, you have to answer a difficult question that’s in the mind of the potential buyer…

“Why would I buy your product when I can get this for free?”

Additional feature lists will not. You have to solve an existing problem that the user has: a “pain point.”

If you can solve an existing pain point, which is not solvable with the alternative free versions, you can make money with open-source.

You’ll also have to target your market, engage the visitor in about 2 or 3 seconds, and with your marketing convert that visitor into a buyer. Not an easy task.