From 944c8af32ae6efdbdf1d881865484d5a2f08a16a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Simon Michael Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:55:46 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] convert funding notes to rst for easier publishing --- NOTES | 206 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------------- 1 file changed, 129 insertions(+), 77 deletions(-) diff --git a/NOTES b/NOTES index 35cd06939..6d0641eab 100644 --- a/NOTES +++ b/NOTES @@ -49,8 +49,14 @@ clever tricks like the plague." --Edsger Dijkstra *** easy ledger compatibility testing **** --compare to compare (xml?) output with ledger with same args ** docs -*** funding -**** vision +*** funding document +======= +funding +======= + +vision +====== + How to grow the hledger project ? I'm looking for ways to fund active and sustainable hledger @@ -69,125 +75,171 @@ clever tricks like the plague." --Edsger Dijkstra while serving the cause of Financial Solvency! So I'm beginning by posting these notes and inviting your thoughts - - as much or as little as folks want to give. How could we do this so - that all benefit ? - -**** funding models + as much or as little as folks want to give. How could we do this + so that all benefit ? + +funding models +============== Brainstorming some possible funding models & processes. -***** grants + * 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 + * 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 + * 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 + * 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 + * 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) + * 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 + * 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 + * 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 + * support + Offer user/developer support for a fee -***** training + * training + Offer application and/or financial training for a fee -***** profit sharing/tithing + * profit sharing/tithing + Each period (quarter, half-year, year), donate 10% (eg) to project contributors and/or supporting projects -***** transparent funding + * transparent funding + Funding and usage of funds is published on the web as a ledger -***** opaque funding + * opaque funding + All funding and spending need not be made public -**** strengths +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) + * 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 -**** competitors/fellow niche inhabitants -***** web apps -****** netsuite -****** sql-ledger, ledgersmb -****** wesabe -****** ... -***** desktop apps -****** quickbooks -****** quicken -****** ms money -****** grisbi -****** gnucash -****** excel -****** ledger! -****** ... +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