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The original was posted on /r/opensource by /u/Motor_Armadillo_7317 on 2025-10-21 19:38:01+00:00.
I’m a 17-year-old developer who has built several popular open-source projects (including a popular Android app and system tools), yet I haven’t earned a single cent from any of them.
Lately, I’ve been feeling a significant loss of passion. Although I receive numerous Issues on GitHub, I no longer have the motivation to fix them or work on the projects because my effort is not matched by any financial return. This situation has led me to question the sustainability of my work.
I want to continue creating free, open-source projects, but I need to adopt a strategy that prevents this burnout.
My practical question to the community is: What are the most realistic first steps you advise for independent developers with popular free projects to start generating a monthly income? And how do developers maintain their drive and passion for their projects when the financial return is zero?