diff --git a/NOTES b/NOTES index a6fd11519..a30c5c0f4 100644 --- a/NOTES +++ b/NOTES @@ -49,6 +49,145 @@ clever tricks like the plague." --Edsger Dijkstra *** easy ledger compatibility testing **** --compare to compare (xml?) output with ledger with same args ** docs +*** funding +**** vision + How to grow the hledger project ? + + I'm looking for ways to fund active and sustainable hledger + development by me and others. + + A secondary goal is to develop new sustainable models and processes + for funding free software developers and other community projects. + + This is sometimes the point in a free sw project's development where + the project leader seemingly loses the plot, alienates contributors + and destroys the community's good-will dynamic. I've seen it many + times, but a few have succeeded and I want to be one of them - so + that I can eat, have a modicum of stability and do my best work in + service to the community. At worst, I'll look bad but the project + will still be out there. At best I'll live more easily and joyfully + while serving the cause of Financial Solvency! + + So I'm beginning by posting these notes and inviting feedback/ideas - + as much or as little as folks want to give. + +**** funding models + Brainstorming some possible funding models & processes. + +***** grants + How to find possible grant sources ? +****** con +******* getting grant funding is a whole new field to study +******* slow and time intensive, I imagine + +***** donations + Solicit donations. +****** pro +******* simple +****** con +******* often difficult +******* donators do not feel a direct benefit + +***** shareware + Release the project under a non-free license, requiring commercial + users to pay the fee on an honour basis (eg). +****** pro +******* flexible, low administration, encourages trust +****** con +******* effectively closed-source ? would inhibit collaboration +******* benefit is still indirect, only a proportion will pay +******* enforcement/guilt may come into play + +***** limited-time premium branch + The funded version of hledger gets some desirable premium features + before the free version and is closed-source. Funders/customers pay + a fixed price for immediate access to the funded version. Yearly, a + new funded version is released and the old funded version is merged + into the free version. (To gain experience it could be done on a + smaller scale, eg monthly/quarterly.) +****** pro +******* all features reach community, predictably +******* customers are also community funders +******* customers receive direct benefit from paying +****** con +******* free sw developers compete/outshine the premium branch + +***** bounties + Some (or all) feature, bugfix, project management or other tasks are + published with a bounty attached. When the bounty is paid by one or + more funders, the task is performed and delivered. Or, bounty is paid + on completion of task (honour system). +****** pro +******* funders receive direct benefit + +***** bounties using fundable.org (eg) + A more organised form of the above, perhaps facilitating trust, + co-funding and larger bounties. +****** pro +******* proven process developed by others +****** con +******* fundable takes a cut + +***** hosted service + Offer hosted and managed ledgers, perhaps with premium features, for + a monthly fee +****** pro +******* proven model +******* clear benefit to customers, especially non-technies +****** con +******* success of free/self-installed version competes with hosting service +******* some will avoid web-hosting their financial data + +***** customisation + Offer per-user customisations, possibly to be merged in the trunk, + for a fee + +***** support + Offer user/developer support for a fee + +***** training + Offer application and/or financial training for a fee + +***** profit sharing/tithing + Each period (quarter, half-year, year), donate 10% (eg) to project + contributors and/or supporting projects + +***** transparent funding + Funding and usage of funds is published on the web as a ledger + +***** opaque funding + All funding and spending need not be made public + +**** strengths + hledger has some aptitudes in this area: +***** hledger deals with money => hledger users will tend to have some money +***** hledger's purpose is to increase financial success => users will feel its value to their bottom line +***** hledger is a tool that can support project funding, eg by publishing community funding data + +**** weaknesses +***** hledger doesn't have a nice ui yet +***** hledger has a limited featureset +***** hledger requires work, eg data entry and chart of accounts maintenance +***** hledger is geeky +***** there is competition +***** hledger has no compelling market niche (aside from payment-averse free software users) + +**** competitors/fellow niche inhabitants +***** web apps +****** netsuite +****** sql-ledger, ledgersmb +****** wesabe +****** ... +***** desktop apps +****** quickbooks +****** quicken +****** ms money +****** grisbi +****** gnucash +****** excel +****** ledger! +****** ... + *** --version *** --help *** readme