Sustainable and sustainable communities of Free Software and Open Source

In previous articles such as " Debate: To Donate or Not to Donate! That is the Question. Don't Let Free Software and Free Documentation Die. Nothing Free Is Forever, " we have also touched on the vital importance of donating or contributing to the movement and communities of Free Software and Open Source for the continued existence and development of these products, thus preventing their rapid disappearance and slow evolution.

Much has been said about whether or not donating is enough. But beyond the social or civic act of contributing through donations to the movements and communities that develop the products they like and use, there is the undeniable fact that the Free and Open Source Software world, in order to survive, is being corporatized as an alternative path to its sustainability. Therefore, Free and Open Source Software communities must also become increasingly "sustainable communities" so that their developments endure over time and are profitable for their developers and contributors.

Introduction

If, in the future, Users and Developers (Communities and Movements) want all Free and Open Source Software to remain in the hands of Organizations, commercial or otherwise, we must be able to find new management or working models that highlight incentives for all those involved.

A current model that can be used by Free and Open Source Software Communities to become sustainable and viable can come from within, that is, from the use of cryptocurrencies or a cryptocurrency of their own for such communities and movements.

Cryptocurrencies are a product derived from Free Software that, when properly implemented, can reverse and improve the uncomfortable and unpleasant financial situation often faced by those who, day after day, create content, develop applications, provide technical assistance, and promote the use of Free Software, Open Source and GNU/Linux Operating Systems and programs, through their own public and/or private websites, without significant monetary compensation in return.

Otherwise, if this or another model or alternative is not implemented, we could see increasingly large corporations or global technology giants in the software industry, such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Google , and many others, gradually taking over the development of Free and Open Source Software . This could even lead to more frequent state or governmental controls , such as the inability to use certain products in this field due to blockades or sanctions imposed by some countries on others.

Sustainable and sustainable communities

Free and Open Source Software communities have always been a kind of unified social structure of individuals, dispersed throughout the wider society. Their members work or contribute a certain amount of effort (time/money) in support of the creation, evolution, and use of Free and Open Source Software.

While at the same time they try to preserve the longevity and permanence of these developments by satisfying the current needs of users without compromising their future ability to satisfy their own needs.

Consequently, Free and Open Source Software Communities must be able to produce software that benefits users and members , without these users ignoring, discarding, or finding it difficult to pay monetary or financially for the associated costs of time and software and hardware resources invested so that such developments can continue to evolve and be used for as long as necessary.

We must always keep in mind that participants in Free and Open Source Software Communities, which must be sustainable, gain many benefits. These benefits extend beyond the software development itself, as users. They also gain the ability to influence the direction of the software as contributors.

Or as creators of documentation and digital multimedia content, or as support providers. This benefits many in terms of reputation and visibility, and in some cases even provides monetary benefits , either through direct involvement as an employee or through donations received.

Conclusion

We, all those passionate and enthusiastic users and participants of Free and Open Source Software, must strengthen and promote not only the creation and maintenance of software by our communities and movements that benefits their members and other stakeholders, both now and in the future, but also the creation and maintenance of a management or working model in which the majority of the value created flows back to their own benefit —that is, to their sustainability.

Improve the mechanisms for fundraising, compensation, employment, donations, and even, why not, launch a cryptocurrency specific to the Free Software, Open Source, and GNU/Linux Movement. A cryptocurrency that allows anyone to buy or sell, pay or receive payments, donate or contribute to an article/publication created or read, rewarding the creation, quality, and dissemination of such useful content.

A cryptocurrency that allows you to buy or sell, pay or collect, donate or collaborate with an application, program or system in development or marketing , or to reward the support provided by others to improve, correct or solve something within our free and open systems or applications.

In short, all options are on the table for us as a community. We just need to implement them efficiently and effectively. And so, together, we can break the paradigm of "Free is free of charge" forever , and replace it with a definitive "Free is not necessarily free of charge, but it is sustainable" for everyone.