Hi Aviram, As it is an email, it is difficult to convey details and it can be confusing.
I am not restricting anything, but since this is a linux/open source mailing list I asked it with this subject. I worked on proprietary code for the last 8 years so I have no problem with proprietary or open source. I do think there are merits to start with an open source project since it is a good starting point (otherwise you start from scratch). Also, I am not saying I am restricted to writing open source code. I would like to create a product (as i wrote earlier i just closed my 2nd or 3rd startup depends how you look at it) eventually but I am trying to be realistic. Start again more slowly. Starting again from scratch: I am currently a freelancer by choice. This is my first time I have worked this way. I am actually being payed well but I do want something which scales and sustainable in the future and that will be turned into a company (somehow), preferably self funded by effort instead of investments. I am not looking to make big bucks but to have more control of the direction it takes. I worked for huge companies which wasted my time by writing the same thing over and over for stupid reasons. I got payed well but I feel I can do more. I am looking for an advise to jumpstart. A place to start. Naturally, my first thought was ask in this mailing list since there are people with open source and business experience here. Perhaps there is a sustainable specific format with other companies examples etc... Everyone says, don't take employees, don't start a startup, don't be independent, don't do that, don't do this. But what can I do?... :) I guess this is too general and I should be more specific but this is my current state so I am telling it as it is. I can write about my attempts but I don't have any definite direction at this time so I am not sure they are relevant. On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 4:34 PM, Aviram Jenik <avi...@jenik.com> wrote: > It's not clear (at least, not to me) what you're asking. > > You want something that has no risk, does not require too much hard work, > but pays well. And then you want to further restrict the search space of > this invisible universe to open source only. How is that "middle ground"? > > Decide which of these constraints you're willing to free, and perhaps > people can help you with some experience. If there was an open source way > to make money easily with no risk and little work I promise you we wouldn't > be telling you about it since we would be too busy drinking cocktails in > our in our own private island in the Caribbeans. > > > On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 10:27 PM, tzahi ml <tzahi...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> It appears not to sound that fun when you tell it like it is. >> I am just closing a startup, not too keen to start a new one right away. >> >> A startup has no business sense. >> However, I was hoping there is a middle ground, a business sense and a >> certain risk. >> The current idea I have is to freelance until I figure this out. >> Perhaps mix freelancing and a making a risky business. >> >> Is there some freelance/small company names with successful models in >> open source in Israel? >> It is hard to believe there is no middle ground, either freelance, be >> employed or start a startup. >> I have no trouble with slow progress but the aim is to scale eventually... >> >> >> On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 4:00 PM, David Suna <da...@davidsconsultants.com> >> wrote: >> >>> >>> On 09/18/2014 02:56 PM, Jonathan Ben Avraham wrote: >>> >>>> On Thu, 18 Sep 2014, tzahi ml wrote: >>>> >>>> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 14:15:40 +0300 >>>>> From: tzahi ml <tzahi...@gmail.com> >>>>> To: "linux-il@cs.huji.ac.il" <linux-il@cs.huji.ac.il> >>>>> Subject: Question about how to make a living from open source >>>>> >>>>> Hi All,I am in need of assistance. >>>>> >>>>> I am currently working as a freelancer coding stuff in a company. >>>>> However, although I am making good living, this does not scale much >>>>> (and promotion is out of the question :) ). >>>>> >>>>> Anyway, I am looking for ways to scale. >>>>> >>>> A different way to say the same thing: >>> You can choose to be an employee in which case your earning potential is >>> limited to what the current market value of someone with your skill set is. >>> Doesn't "scale" but does provide you with benefits, a "guaranteed" salary >>> and a corporate culture for advancement. >>> >>> Or, you can choose to work for yourself. This have several variations: >>> 1. Working as a contractor - Generally this allows you to charge a >>> higher hourly rate. The down side is you have to provide your own benefits, >>> accounting, etc. You also lose the stability of it being someone else's job >>> to generate work for you. This also does not "scale" as you are limited to >>> the number of hours a day you can work and the going market rate for the >>> skill set you have. >>> >>> 2. Produce a product - Build a better mouse trap and sell it. This is >>> not necessarily in line with the open source way of doing things. However, >>> it is a common business plan. This has the potential to "scale" as you can >>> develop the product once and sell it many times. You have the significant >>> risk of startup and development costs and whether the product will be >>> successful. >>> >>> 3. Provide a service - Along the lines of the idea you suggested of >>> hosting complex solutions. This is similar to being a contractor but the >>> focus is on marketing the service you provide rather you and your skill >>> set. This only has the potential to scale by having other people (employees >>> or contractors) provide the service in the name of your company. Your >>> profit is the cost you can charge the client minus the cost of the worker >>> actually doing the work. You also take on the responsibility of generating >>> enough work to cover the costs of the worker(s) and yourself. With all of >>> the joys that Yonatan described in his email. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> David Suna >>> da...@davidsconsultants.com >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Linux-il mailing list >>> Linux-il@cs.huji.ac.il >>> http://mailman.cs.huji.ac.il/mailman/listinfo/linux-il >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Linux-il mailing list >> Linux-il@cs.huji.ac.il >> http://mailman.cs.huji.ac.il/mailman/listinfo/linux-il >> >> >
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