Re: follow the money, especially in opensource

Lawrence D'Oliveiro <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 18 Jul 2026 13:53:48 GMT, Retrograde wrote:
>> Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux kernel and git, is employed
>> by the Linux Foundation[1]. This Foundation is a non-profit
>> organisation dedicated to, as the name obviously implies, the
>> promotion of Linux. The primary use of the funds it collects is to
>> "help fund the infrastructure and fellows, including Linus Torvalds,
>> who help develop the Linux kernel". The list of megacorporations
>> donating most of the Foundation's funds is long.
> 
> Where does the money go, again? I notice you were a little short on
> details on that. Obviously not all of those mega-millions go into
> Linus Torvalds' pocket.

Of a total expenditure of $284,795,682 in the 2025 annual report,
only $8,410,144 is attributed to "Linux Kernel Project". Most goes
to "Project Support", which sounds like it could mean anything.
Their "Training" and "Event Services" appear to be profit-making,
and each get more money than "Linux Kernel Project", which makes
me wonder if it's turned into more of a separate business than
something focused on building software.

Even if the Linux Foundation's funding is maintained, if the AI
companies sack the kernel developers who of them also employ, that
might hurt the Linux kernel project much more.

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