Contribute where you think it matters [LWN.net]

Contribute where you think it matters

Posted Sep 23, 2008 10:27 UTC (Tue) by coriordan (guest, #7544)
In reply to: Linux Foundation courts individual members (Linux-Watch) by k8to
Parent article: Linux Foundation courts individual members (Linux-Watch)

Thousands of programmers are already paid to work on GNU/Linux, and the corporate holders of Linux Foundation can fund more programmers at a whim.

To make a worthwhile difference, I suggest contributing to an organisation that is doing the work we can't leave to the corporates.

I donated to FSF and FSFE before I started working for FSFE. Working for them, of course I can be accused of being biased, but I do think that FSFE is doing great work and is worth supporting (<plug>joining the annual membership program FSFE's Fellowship is a good way</plug>)

The corporates will not get rid of the software patent problem, and the corporates will not defend the public's general right to participate in development and distribution of software. FSFE does this at the European and global level (UN, WIPO, WTO, WSIS, WGIG).

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Contribute where you think it matters

Posted Sep 23, 2008 14:03 UTC (Tue) by dns (subscriber, #4239) [Link]

Contributing to essential efforts that are underfunded
is a worthwhile optimization, and the FSF and FSFE are a good choice.

But there is a "closer to home" choice: LWN.

I speculate that we would not be taking for granted today that set
of paradigms that go together to form Unix if it hadn't been that
one of the original Bell Labs group happened to have unusually good
writing skills and, equally important, the willingness to use them
extensively: Brian Kernighan.

Jon continues in the Kernighan tradition. Have others noticed how
often LWN articles are referenced now, sometimes even as a substitute for
writing their own documentation by respected (but writing-challenged?)
kernel-hackers!?

Jon's continuing efforts are an "essential service" to the Linux
community that you can support by arranging for more paid
subscriptions -- the only way he will allow.

Contribute where you think it matters

Posted Sep 23, 2008 14:16 UTC (Tue) by davi (guest, #18853) [Link]

What about contributing directly to developers?

Donation pledges

An example