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Time for a 
take
If you cannot find a way to be compensated, recognized, or get some value out of your OSS contributions you should reconsider how you are investing your time.
You don't need to be directly compensated, but you should personally benefit from your labor.
takeIf you cannot find a way to be compensated, recognized, or get some value out of your OSS contributions you should reconsider how you are investing your time.
You don't need to be directly compensated, but you should personally benefit from your labor.
I've seen various folks try to turn OSS contributions into a full-time job, and I've even seen some of them be successful at it. That's pretty freaking cool, but I have to be honest that this kind of success is an outlier.
It is hard to convince folks to pay for maintenance.
It is hard to convince folks to pay for maintenance.
I've seen consultancies such as @igalia find ways to bill clients for OSS + Standards labor that the client finds valuable. I think this model in particular is very innovative and offers a great balance of getting to work on OSS + Standards by focusing on others needs.
I've personally worked in various roles for large organizations where I have been compensated to work on OSS. While this is likely one of the most stable ways to work full time on OSS + Standards it can be limiting in career growth at certain organizations.
If you are on the payroll of an organization and spending company time on maintaining OSS you need the company to value that labor or you won't be able to progress in your career.
I've seen folks make large impact in OSS not get a promotion because it didn't have internal impact
I've seen folks make large impact in OSS not get a promotion because it didn't have internal impact
Now this isn't at all to shame the folks who are having fun learning, twiddling bits to expand their mind, but there definitely becomes a point of diminishing returns.
There is a huge difference between hacking on a new feature you want and triaging the latest security vuln.
There is a huge difference between hacking on a new feature you want and triaging the latest security vuln.
There are big problems with the existing incentive models for OSS maintainers, especially when corporate incentives don't align with the needs of an OSS project.
There is also a lot of strong feelings in regards to volunteer labor and respecting the time people have put in.
There is also a lot of strong feelings in regards to volunteer labor and respecting the time people have put in.
With all that said, it is pretty amazing what OSS has become and how much of the modern world of commerce, art, communication, and science are built on top of these technologies.
It is intoxicating to feel like you are changing the world. It is a noble goal.
It is intoxicating to feel like you are changing the world. It is a noble goal.
This is just to remind folks that it is OK to look out for yourself, to be a little selfish. If you find that you are not getting out of something what you are putting in perhaps it is time to reevaluate the time and energy you are investing.
P.S. If you do decide to make a big life change, do make sure you have a clear exit plan and hand things off with grace. While it is totally reasonable to do what you need to do for yourself it is shitty to ghost folks who rely on you.
