Free as in Burned Out: Who Really Pays for Open Source?

Open Source powers nearly everything in our digital lives, from web servers to smartphones. In many ways, we could say Open Source has "won". But can we really celebrate that victory when so many maintainers are burning out, while users and companies continue to depend on their unpaid labor? The current sustainability models, from corporate sponsorships to paid support, often fall short, leaving creators overwhelmed and users with unrealistic expectations. In this talk, we’ll take a critical look at how Open Source has been funded (or not funded), why many existing models are failing, and what new paths we might explore to ensure the long-term health of the ecosystem. We’ll dissect funding approaches like donations, sponsorships, and open core, and ask some uncomfortable questions: Why are we still relying on volunteers to power global infrastructure? Is it time for an Open Source tax? Would paying volunteers actually motivate or demotivate them? This is not just a talk about money. It’s a call to radically rethink what sustainability really means for Open Source, and how we can build a future that doesn’t run on burnout.