After having worked “De Klok” to go from Google Cloud platform after the Open Source Credits were there, and now hurried to move Equinix, Tissoeloest suggests a new plan: “[H]Ave [freedesktop.org] Pay for his own servers and then have sponsors. “
“Popular without most users who know”
Alpine Linux, a small, security -oriented distribution that is used in many containers and embedded devices, also quickly needs a new house. As detailed in his blog, Alpine Linux uses around 800 TB bandwidth every month and also needs continuous integration runners (or individual Job agents), as well as a development box. Alpine states that it is looking for co-location room and bare-metal servers in the Netherlands, although it will consider virtual machines if bare metal is not feasible.
Just like x.org/freedestop, Alpine uses this moment as a wake-up call. Responding to Ars, Carlo Landmeter, who serves in the Council of Alpine, noticed that Alpine Linux is a kind of open source project “that became popular without most users who knew it.” Users start to donate and companies are contacting to help, but they are still 'early days', Landmeter wrote.
Every so often, those who work at the basis of Open Source Software have something that emphasizes the mismatch between the importance of a project and its support and financing. Perhaps some people or some organizations will do the more difficult work to find a sustainable future for these projects.
Ars has contacted Equinix and X/Freedestop and will update this message with answers.
