this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2025
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That's really too bad... They are a super talented developer and they were doing something really cool, and making great progress too.
But if they were doing Asahi Linux for fun as a hobby, and if it isn't fun anymore for a variety of reasons, then you really can't blame them.
I'm not sure if there is a "right" or "wrong" here, as this is just one person's side of the story that acknowledges, but mostly glosses over, the possibility that they made mistakes or behaved badly at times too.
But I can absolutely understand the basic concept of burning out because you don't think your hard work is being appreciated, because people are making hard things even harder for you, or because users on the internet let their excitement about a thing push them too far into being entitled.
Hopefully Marcan can find some time to relax and do fun and rewarding things with their time.
I have 0 knowledge about this project, so my statement here is just a general statement.
But if a developer collects donations for promising something, then this is not just "for fun", but they do have a moral obligation to try doing a good job.
It seems they overfullfilled their obligations (but all I know about it, are the words of the developer). So, as said above, this is a general statement.
edit: lol you guys are funny, but maybe read my comment. I talked about "doing his best" and about "things they promised". You really think it is okay to say "I will try project A, I need donations" and then go on a holiday with the donated money and do nothing else? Do you thing this attitude will get people to donate anything?
Donations do not obligate anyone to do anything. It’s a donation, not pay. They should be done out of appreciation for someone’s time and effort, or to help support any potential work the project decides to do. But never with the expectation that you’re owed something back for donating.
You're probably right from a legal perspective, but the difference between "donation" and "salary" is pretty murky in this context.
If this person was given a grant or funding via a kickstarter or something I would agree with the obligation idea, but donations are exactly that, a voluntary gift to the dev for the work they have done so far and may continue to do in the future. There are no "moral obligations" to continue the project.
Yes. A donation is a donation, fullstop.
Would I feel good or morally okay doing such a thing? Absolutely no way. I acknowledge that internal inconsistency. If someone gives me something, I feel obligation to give back.. simple as that.
Objectively speaking though, a donation is not a contract, and to expect a donation to have future influence is a messy method of doing business that should be viewed with a pretty critical eye. If a person giving money wants an obligation, they should pursue a contract.. If they don't care what happens after they give the money but just want to show support or appreciation, that's where donations shine.
If I gave a donation to my favorite videogame dev, but then 2 hours later they stopped supporting that game, I'd still be happy I showed them support for what they had given me so far. I believe retroactively being unhappy about giving a donation shouldn't cast the receiver in a bad light, and that it's the giver that didn't understand what they were doing and what the potential outcomes were.
Wow. The entitlement… maybe learn what a donation means