Express sustainability (funding deep dive)

[UlisesGascon]

As discussed in our last meetings, we agreed to do a deep dive session about this topic.

There have been several discussions (online, offline, public/private....) over the years and recently. The idea of this issue is to prepare the discussion for a deep dive session in the near future.

Historical context

• Open Collective for Express #52
• Financial Support For Express #69

Resources

• Getting Paid in Open Source
• Babel Funding Update

Ideas to discuss on the session

• OpenJS foundation - New Ecosystem Sustainability Program (see)
• Collaborate on documentation through rewards in Opire #245

The idea is to drop ideas/concerns/whatever is relevant to have enough context for the deep dive session.

Note: I will update this message frequently to act as an index for the session, as I can imagine that this thread will be quite long to read. As well, I make an effort to moderate it and keep it on track. Actually, any TC member can update it, so feel free to do it :)

[UlisesGascon]

I see a lot of potential in this initiative OpenJS foundation - New Ecosystem Sustainability Program (CPC approval is pending).

Quick summary

• Offers a solid solution for users and companies that want to keep using Express@4 in the far future: Project maintainers are able to continue providing public support to any version of their software, including versions covered by an ESP partner, without constraint.
• We will need to join the LFX Crowdfunding platform and this will help us to start other initiatives, as an example Node.js Bug Bounty/Security Fund.
• Revenue would be based on HeroDev's enterprise customer billing and be split 10% for Express and 5% for the Foundation.

[bjohansebas]

I have two questions:

1. Will a donations page be created? I saw that ESLint has one: https://eslint.org/donate/

2. Will GitHub Sponsors also be used, or only Open Collective?

[ljharb]

If there's an OC, then GitHub Sponsors can be hooked up to point to it.

[wesleytodd]

Just wanted to flag this comment here: expressjs/express#6064 (comment)

I am a 👍 to this, but I think before we publish this we probably need just a bit more clear consensus visibly shown in the PR, since this is the first time we will directly message this to end users. Like the page is super bare bones, and I am not sure we want folks seeing it like that. I dont really know if it matters, but just wanted to flag it.

[voxpelli]

Would love feedback on whether https://github.com/collective-funds/guidelines would be suitable for adoption for you.

We announced our adoption on the Mochajs Open Collective earlier this year: https://opencollective.com/mochajs/updates/adopting-collective-funds-guidelines-0-1