Is the proposed software something that creates a competitive advantage or is foundational/plumbing?
I'm not going to fund an open source project that would represent an even fleeting competitive advantage. On the other hand, I'm not going to pay to build an in-house CMS. If I had the money would consider spending it to support some open initiative. The rub I see though is that most startups don't have the runway to throw discretionary spending at open source.
sponsoring an open-source project so that it is well maintained?
Invalid assumption.
There is no guarantee of any kind with open source --- not for maintenance or direction or control or support or schedule or anything. Open source makes demands but offers no real promises in return.
If this is really a "critical" app and you need better control, I'd say you have no sensible/realistic option but to either built it yourself or at least maintain your own version of it. Lots of people have figured this out the hard way.
2 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 12.1 ms ] threadI'm not going to fund an open source project that would represent an even fleeting competitive advantage. On the other hand, I'm not going to pay to build an in-house CMS. If I had the money would consider spending it to support some open initiative. The rub I see though is that most startups don't have the runway to throw discretionary spending at open source.
Invalid assumption.
There is no guarantee of any kind with open source --- not for maintenance or direction or control or support or schedule or anything. Open source makes demands but offers no real promises in return.
If this is really a "critical" app and you need better control, I'd say you have no sensible/realistic option but to either built it yourself or at least maintain your own version of it. Lots of people have figured this out the hard way.