Here a thought about one problem I personally encounter with open source. I like to call it the Open Source Void Frustration which I think a lot of great, and probably even more not so great projects die from.

Generally I’m talking about the feeling that strikes coders when their work hits the world and totally goes under in a void. The leak of feedback, so I believe is a serious problem in the Open Source community. If you’re employed you get feedback, if you want or not – either you keep the job or not, if nothing else.

Think honestly about it, for how many Open Source projects did you actually provide feedback. Ashamed I have to admit that I do so for only a small fraction of those I use. Properly should change that now that I think about it like that.

But getting back to the topic, feedback is important. Even if it’s just submitting a feature request or reporting a bug. The pure knowledge that there is someone out there that uses what a programmer puts likely lots of energy into helps to keep going.

It is the one way that actually is ‘paying’ open source developers, not getting money feedback is often the one thing they ask for in return for their work. Shame on me for being late on a lot of bills here – and likely shame on a lot of those who read that for being as late as I am.