Why You Should Pay for Open Source

Almost every developer uses open-source projects daily, whether it's writing code in VS Code, speeding up development with TailwindCSS, or building robust web applications with Laravel, the most popular PHP framework. And let's not forget FilamentPHP for building admin panels.

In this post I want to make a simple case: if open source makes your work possible, you should help pay for it. I'll use Laravel as an example, explain why "free" is not the same as "free of cost", and finish with practical ways to contribute.

Open source is built by people

These projects aren't built by ghosts. They're created by people, some of the best in their fields. They aren't just doing their jobs; they're making the work of everyone else easier, faster and more efficient.

Case study: a world without Laravel

Let's consider a scenario where the Laravel framework didn't exist. Before Laravel, building a stable, secure, SOLID-compliant MVC structure with PHP 5.7 was a daunting task. Taylor Otwell recognised this challenge and, without asking for payment, worked hard to create Laravel, revolutionising PHP development.

PHP went from 5.6 straight to 7.0; "PHP 5.7" here means the late PHP 5 era.

Imagine if Taylor hadn't received community support. Laravel, and perhaps even PHP itself, might have faded away. Thankfully, he did get support, grew a team, and even launched tools like Herd for free. Today, Laravel has received substantial funding ($57M), allowing it to thrive while remaining open and free to use.

Is open source really free?

Most open-source projects are released under the MIT license, which means they're free to use, modify or clone. But "free to use" doesn't mean "free of cost".

Open-source developers invest their time and expertise to create and maintain these projects. If you're using open-source software and earning from it, you should sponsor or contribute to those projects and support the people behind them.

How you can contribute

Sponsor the projects you depend on

Visit GitHub, check out the repositories you use daily, and support their creators. Even $1 can make a difference to a developer, because it shows them their work is valued.

Spread the word

If you can't contribute financially, help by sharing their work:

• Write about the tools you rely on in blog posts.
• Share them on social media.
• Record videos showing how you use them.

Exposure can drive others to contribute, ensuring the continued growth of open-source projects.

Final thoughts

The tools we use every day exist because someone chose to share their work. Let's support the community, so we can keep benefiting from more innovative open-source tools.