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What Is an Open-Source Organization?

An open-source organization builds software where:

  • the code is public
  • anyone can read it
  • anyone can contribute

Examples:

  • Linux Foundation projects
  • Mozilla
  • Kubernetes
  • Django
  • Apache Software Foundation

📦 The code lives on platforms like GitHub.

Why Do Open-Source Organizations Exist?

They exist to:

  • build shared technology
  • avoid reinventing the wheel
  • improve software faster through collaboration
  • keep important software free and transparent

Many things you use daily depend on open source:

  • Android
  • Chrome
  • servers
  • cloud tools
  • AI frameworks

Why Do Open-Source Orgs Collaborate With GSoC?

Short answer:

Talent + funding + sustainability

Long answer:

1️⃣ They Get New Contributors

GSoC brings:

  • motivated students
  • fresh energy
  • long-term contributors

Many GSoC students:

  • stay after the program
  • become maintainers later

2️⃣ Google Pays, Not the Org

Important:

  • Google pays the student stipend
  • Google does not pay the org
  • orgs volunteer mentors

So orgs get:

  • real development work
  • no financial cost

3️⃣ They Can Work on Hard but Important Tasks

Maintainers are busy.

GSoC lets them:

  • assign large tasks
  • improve documentation
  • refactor old code
  • build new features

4️⃣ Community Growth

Healthy open source needs:

  • many contributors
  • not just 1–2 maintainers

GSoC helps:

  • avoid burnout
  • spread knowledge

How Do Open-Source Organizations Make Money?

This is where most beginners get confused.

❗ Open source ≠ free labor

There are many funding models.

1️⃣ Company-Backed Open Source

Big companies fund projects because they use them.

Examples:

  • Google → Kubernetes
  • Meta → React
  • Red Hat → Linux

💰 Money comes from:

  • company salaries
  • enterprise services
  • cloud products

Developers are full-time employees.

2️⃣ Foundations & Donations

Examples:

  • Apache Foundation
  • Mozilla Foundation

Funding comes from:

  • donations
  • sponsorships
  • grants

Money is used for:

  • infrastructure
  • events
  • paying maintainers (sometimes)

3️⃣ Open Core Model

  • core software is free
  • advanced features are paid

Used by:

  • GitLab
  • Elastic (earlier model)

4️⃣ Support & Consulting

Organizations make money by:

  • selling support
  • training
  • enterprise help

Example:

  • “We help you run this open-source software at scale”

5️⃣ Grants & Programs (Like GSoC)

  • Google funds contributors
  • orgs get development without paying salaries

How Do Open-Source Developers Make a Living?

This is the most important question.

1️⃣ Full-Time Job (Most Common)

Developers work on open source as their job.

They are paid by:

  • Google
  • Red Hat
  • Microsoft
  • startups

Their work just happens to be public.

2️⃣ Maintainers with Sponsorships

Some maintainers earn via:

  • GitHub Sponsors
  • donations
  • company sponsorships

This works mostly for:

  • popular projects
  • core infrastructure tools

3️⃣ Consulting & Freelancing

Developers:

  • become experts in a project
  • offer paid help to companies

4️⃣ Grants & Fellowships

Some foundations pay:

  • stipends
  • fellowships
  • research grants

5️⃣ Career Growth (Indirect Money)

Open source helps developers:

  • build reputation
  • get job offers
  • get interviews easily

Many people get hired because of GitHub.

How GSoC Fits into All This

GSoC is:

  • not charity
  • not free labor
  • not an internship

It is:

  • Google investing in open source
  • orgs investing time
  • students investing effort

Everyone benefits.

What Students Get from GSoC

  • stipend
  • real-world experience
  • mentor guidance
  • strong resume
  • long-term career boost

What Orgs Get

  • contributors
  • features completed
  • future maintainers

What Google Gets

  • healthier open-source ecosystem
  • better infrastructure for the internet
  • trained developers