Why The Perl and Raku Foundation Supports The Open Source Pledge

Tue, 08-Oct-2024 by Stuart J Mackintosh edit post

## The Open Source Pledge We at The Perl and Raku Foundation are supporting the Open Source Pledge initiative. The Open Source Pledge consists of companies with a shared commitment to paying the maintainers of the open source software they consume, therefore aims to help address sustainability challenges facing the Open Source community. ## The Sustainability Challenge in OSS Open source software is the backbone of much of today’s technology, but it relies heavily on the unpaid work of maintainers. As these volunteers struggle with burnout, turnover among OSS maintainers is high. Without the necessary support, key projects face the risk of disruption, which has far-reaching implications for the broader tech ecosystem. We have already seen the devastating effects of underfunded projects. ## The Perl and Raku Foundation's Role in OSS The Perl and Raku Foundation goal is to build a strong, healthy and sustainable language ecosystem and community. We also understand the importance of sustained funding for OSS projects. Through our community and core maintenance grants, we will provide support to developers who maintain essential infrastructure. These few dedicated individuals keep key components running, which are relied upon by both commercial systems and the broader internet. This funding is necessary not only for technical upkeep but also for the non-technical aspects of managing open source communities. Without this support, the risk of losing essential contributors and the valuable work they do is too great. This model of sustainability funding goes beyond just code contributions and aligns with the goals of the Open Source Pledge. It shows how financial support can be leveraged to maintain not just software, but entire developer ecosystems. This reinforces the importance of initiatives like the Open Source Pledge in supporting the broader open source ecosystem. ## The Case for Joining the Pledge The Open Source Pledge sets a new standard for how companies can contribute to OSS sustainability. By joining, companies commit to paying at least $2,000 per year for each developer on staff, with transparency through an annual report that details their payments. We encourage other organizations to join us in supporting the Open Source Pledge, and using this as a method to set the value of your donations. By doing so, you’ll help ensure that the Perl and Raku ecosystem as well as the wider Open Source efforts remain healthy and sustainable, and that developers are recognized for the critical work they do. For more information about the Open Source Pledge and how to participate, please visit https://osspledge.com/ This is a welcome step in the right direction. "The Open Source Pledge is a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of the open source ecosystem and by participating in this pledge, businesses can play a role in fostering innovation and maintaining the digital infrastructure we all rely on." Stuart Mackintosh, President of The Perl and Raku Foundation. You can support The Perl and Raku Foundation directly using the method described by the Open Source Pledge, or any other amount that you can afford, [details on our donations page here](https://www.perlfoundation.org/donate.html).

Category: Perl Foundation , Raku Foundation

Why The Perl and Raku Foundation Supports The Open Source Pledge

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