Open source software has been an enabler fueling Internet growth and our modern lifestyles. Open source software is essential to our digital ecosystem, and society generally.
But the open-source business model is deeply flawed. People have come to expect (and sometimes demand) hard working software engineers, maintainers, tech writers, support personnel and other technical people to work for free. This is unacceptable, and disrespectful behavior that fails to recognize and value human contributions and commitment that are producing real value for others.
The open-source business model must be fixed and the people that are calling for talented technical people to work for free need to cease and desist from this bad behavior that disrespects and devalues human beings and their laborious contributions to society.
This effort by GitHub is a good first step to recognizing the valuable role technical people serve to society by funding the creation and support of open-source software, and the people behind these efforts. Well done GitHub. My one concern about this program is: "Will the EU-CRA policy makers now view these parties that receive funding as a "manufacturer" instead of an open-source contributor?"