Diogo Campos píše v Ne 14. 02. 2016 v 18:35 -0200:
## About the thing
I am organizing a (potentially big) user-funding campaign for Free
Software in Brazil.
In retrospect, last week I launched the Autonomia[1], an association
of independent professionals (self-employed, freelancers) that is
free, open, fair and transparent.
[1]:
https://o-diogocampos.rhcloud.com/autonomia.html
This project, in a week, matured so well, received so much positive
feedback, and so many potential customers came, that I felt strongly
motivated to try together an old idea of mine, which is a closely
related project:
Make the users themselves directly (and massively) finance Free
Software (more precisely the GNU/Linux desktop).
## About the numbers
In Brazil, there are 100,000,000 internet users.
Since the current metrics point to 1% of GNU/Linux users, there are,
therefore, 1,000,000 of Free Software users in Brazil.
Even if we reduce this number by 1% again (to be "realistic" as
possible), we still have a number of 10,000 people with full
potential to finance the project.
And this is the focus of the "first phase" of the project: to make
10,000 Brazilians pay for 10 Brazilians to work full-time and every
month in Free Software.
In money, each supporter would need to invest a measly USD 0.50 per
month for it to become reality. This way each 1,000 people would
raise USD 500 per month, which is enough to pay USD 440 (2 times the
minimum wage in Brazil) for each professional, and still pay the
costs of operation and maintenance of the project itself.
## About the workers and the softwares
Having getting the money, the current strategy would be as follows,
in summary:
1. Developer (OSTree).
2. Developer (xdg-app).
3. Developer (GNOME Shell).
4. Developer (GTK).
5. UI Designer (Shell, GTK, Web, Core Apps).
6. Developer (GNOME Web).
7. Developer (GNOME Core Apps - Documents, Music, Videos & Photos).
8. ?????.
9. Translator.
10. Marketing person.
Who will search, hire and manage these professionals will be the
above-mentioned association, the Autonomia. Because it is an
association of independent professionals, non-profit, where everyone
is payed the same value per hour and where revenues and expenses are
public and transparent.
## About me
I'm Diogo Campos[2], a self-taught web developer, and self-employed,
who lives in Brazil (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina).
[2]:
http://o-diogocampos.rhcloud.com/
I've tried to contribute to Free Software (and Free Culture in
general) several times, but always give up because of my (really) bad
financial situation until now.
Michael Catanzaro probably remember me, for my last contribution
attempt (a bunch of designs for GNOME Web). Perhaps Allan Day
remember me too. And if I'm not mistaken, someone who works in the
GNOME Maps lives right next to me (must confirm, however).
I am first gathering information from the active community to, then,
seek the support of all the specialized media, related communities,
and interested institutions and individuals to do, together, a large,
surprise and massive social event, both on Brazil and outside of it.
Probably on day 22, and probably through Patreon. Still working on
the details.
I am also already creating textual/informational material for the
campaign. I am thinking in focusing the term "Linux" to take the risk
of the campaign "leaking" to the mainstream media.
Also, a friend which is a Graphic Designer will build graphic
material for the campaign for free.
## About you
What do you think about the project?
What do you think of the positions and the benefited softwares?
Would you help to spread the campaign? If not, why?
Who do you recommend to contact and seek support (internationally)?
I thought about Linux Action Show, Bad Voltage, Brian Lunduke, Fedora
Magazine, People from GNOME Planet and Fedora Planet, GNOME
Foundation, Free Software Foundation, EFF, Richard Stallman, Wogue
and Phoronix.
Some more? Or some of these should I not?
If you are Brazilian, who should I contact? I thought only about BR-
Linux until now. Some more? Or someone who should I not?
For now, that's it. I will keep you updated.
Hi,
it's indeed an ambitious plan, I can't really evaluate the feasibility
of crowdsourcing because I'm not from Brazil, but I suppose it will be
pretty challenging considering the economic difficulties the country is
experiencing nowadays.
Where the calculation fails IHMO is the salary of developers. From what
I heard from my Brazilian colleagues, there is no way to hire a full-
time developer for $440. To get at least a bit experienced software
developer, I think you need at least $2000 even in Brazil. Note that
the total cost is not only the net salary, but it also includes taxes,
social, health insurance and other employee-related expenses. In most
countries, the company's direct costs on an employee are at least twice
as much as what they receive in the end.
Jiri