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Re:The people holding up the internet by jdw64 on Thursday October 08, 2026 @03:01AM (#50002622)
What I’m curious about is, then, how should this problem be handled? Actually, there’s a point I’m somewhat curious about. For projects with a bus factor of 1 or very low, and in a supply chain like this, there’s a somewhat difficult point regarding what kind of system should be established so that the core developers maintaining that kind of core receive appropriate compensation.

That’s true, after all. Technically very new or challenging technologies get the spotlight from many people, but these technologies are very important yet are a kind of engine technology that is less visible... I’m curious how this should be identified or selected.

That said, if you set up a committee, the committee could also become an inner circle based on their personal connections.

Re:The people holding up the internet by Muromec on Thursday October 08, 2026 @04:17AM (#50003161)
Believe it or nit, the answer to this is -- more communism.
Re:The people holding up the internet by socalgal2 on Thursday October 08, 2026 @04:02AM (#50003069)
Sorry to be harsh but, dev gets hit by bus, project is forked, people move on.

I'm sympathetic to this topic but I hate the framing. "The people holding up the internet" includes thousands of people at Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and yes, some volunteers too who are doing as a hobby.

They are free to give it up and stop doing it. Some person or company will pick it up.

Re:The people holding up the internet by dyauspitr on Thursday October 08, 2026 @03:14AM (#50002724)
The devs should send emails asking for a couple million each to all the large tech companies while reminding them how much their utility is being used for their product. I think a lot of them will donate the money. It’s lesser than chump change to them.
Re:The people holding up the internet by alpaca128 on Thursday October 08, 2026 @03:45AM (#50002942)
I remember when the maintainer of an open source XML library contacted dozens of companies for support to fix a critical vulnerability, and most of them didn't even respond and aside from two the rest went basically "not our problem, get lost".

A handful of companies probably care a bit but most won't bother to pay even a penny.

Re:The people holding up the internet by dyauspitr on Thursday October 08, 2026 @12:04PM (#50007536)
There’s a difference between assigning resources to a problem and taking on the responsibility for a utility and just donating money no strings attached with no accountability and potential positive press.
Re:The people holding up the internet by alpaca128 on Thursday October 08, 2026 @06:25PM (#50013269)
It was possible to just donate money with no strings attached actually, and one of the two companies that helped did just that. And positive press was also involved.
Re:The people holding up the internet by ElijahLynn on Thursday October 08, 2026 @03:18AM (#50002762)
+100