Also hardware
Comment on Are there any non capitalistic technology companies still around?
webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 1 month ago
I recognize that this is a very different angle but there is a global trend for free open source software which are non profit from design.
Of course this basically means you need to be a developer and than there is still the question about how to survive within economic society.
I doubt you want to live from donations coming from where you are now.
The sweet spot, which might be viable for you is an open source devision within a for profit company. Many industries have started to understand the massive value of open source software and standards. Companies like redhat build open source tools on one side but then sell industry tailored packages and support to enterprises for profit. Even Nvidia has started to open source some level of their drivers because they realized that enthusiast will often improve on those for zero costs.
I imagine in some of those divisions its just like a normal company with not just devs but all kinda of roles your direct product will be used by the for profit stuff but also be free for everyone else out there that might need it.
jagged_circle@feddit.nl 1 month ago
JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 1 month ago
Open-source hardware is almost non-existant compared to software. There is a reason for it.
I am an electronics engineer who makes open source hardware as a hobby.
Hardware is extremely different from software. It requires substantial monetary investment.
My company last year did a dirt-cheap lowest-possible-budget prototype design and run of 10 for someone funding themselves independently. It cost 8000€ for the design and that one prototype run, and an extremely simple design at that (electronically, medical-spec mechanically).
Software you buy a system and you can develop and develop and iterate and test 1000 times and develop multiple projects on that single machine. If you sell 0 units, sure you are out a computer and a ton of personal time. Sucks, but you won’t lose your house.
If you do electronics + mechanical development, every time you iterate on the electronics, that will be 200€-1000€ please, plus test equipment. If you make a small mistake equivalent to a wrong pointer that is another 1000 down the drain.
Hardware projects, pure material-wise, can cost more than a car to develop (just going through CE and FCC compliance testing can be 2k-10k and you aren’t allowed to sell in the EU without it.
You need capital to burn. Most people would rather make a down payment on a house than develop open hardware that might never recoup just the material costs.
jagged_circle@feddit.nl 1 month ago
The key for open source hardware is crowd funding. Source: I’ve run an open source hardware company for years.
JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 1 month ago
That is very cool, I have never met someone who had success with open hardware. Can I ask what the company is?
Any tips for doing crowd funding if I decide to put my stuff on the market? I feel like crowd funding has died off a lot in comparison with 10 years ago since most campaigns either don’t reach the goal, don’t deliver the product (or a very basis version), or were scams to begin with.
tpyoman@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Thanks so much for your reply, sorry for the delay I got distracted and was watching a yms video, the issue is the visa a lot of places I would love to apply yo but th3y can’t/won’t sponsor a visa.
Though a non profit does sound like a better option for me I will try and look into open positions that would sponsor a visa.