Replying to szarka

A lot of folks working on Linux are supported by companies that rely on Linux, though. They do something else that they can monetize, and they contribute to Linux and other OSS because (1) their business succeeds when Linux succeeds and (2) contributing is a badge of honor while not contributing might get them shamed—IOW, the culture of OSS expects/demands it.

How do we create/maintain the same culture for nostr? What business models will align incentives?
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Mike Dilger ☑️ 2y ago

But that is not how linux started. And Bill Gates was certain (based on his capitalistic ideals) that it couldn't possibly succeed because there was no profit and therefore no incentive and therefore Bill Gates ignored it entirely to his detriment. The lesson should be that it is dangerous to be so convinced in our beliefs about how things work that we ignore what is actually happening in front of our faces.

I have no problem with people thinking about how monetary incentives could align with nostr. Nothing I'm saying is a counterpoint to that, it is a side point.

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szarka 2y ago

Sure. All I'm saying, and I think what Semisol was saying, is that pure altruism isn't enough. Developers have to eat, too. In the case of Linux, after the first 5 years Linus' own work was supported by a job at Transmeta, then later indirectly by other companies via funding of the Linux Foundation. IIRC, there was also a gift of some Red Hat stock when they IPOed.