Ask HN: Would you pay developers to fix open source bugs?

Posted by whather on Wednesday August 03, 2011 @06:29PM
from the ask-hn dept.

I could see it working well for GitHub. You would submit a bug to some sort of "bug board" with a link to the repository and attach a reward (you choose the amount of money). Other developers could then choose to fix a bug and maybe the developer who finishes it first gets the prize? However this could lead to crappy code and there would be wasted developer time (developers who don't finish first).

There could be many other ways to award the prize but I'm just curious if you would ever use a service like this?

( 3 comments | 10 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Would you pay developers to fix open source bugs? by riffmaster on Wednesday August 03, 2011 @09:25PM (#2844106)

It's a good idea. Would it be possible to even choose the developer to fix the bug out of the developers who are interested ?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Would you pay developers to fix open source bugs? by SingAlong on Thursday August 04, 2011 @01:28AM (#2844738)

I'm on a contract with a startup doing just this mostly. Mostly of what I do is opensource. And I'll tell you it's fun. There are certain times when it's very tempting to fork off or write another library.

Although I have to admit that it's certainly fun.

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Re:Ask HN: Would you pay developers to fix open source bugs? by Joakal on Friday August 05, 2011 @12:05AM (#2848927)

There's bounty boards albeit for security bugs. I would love to pay for fixes if the maintainer determines it as a bug but can't fix it in at the moment.

There would be an issue of hiding progress work for fear of losing payment as you point out payment goes to those who finishes first.

There's also some more issues.

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