[forum] individually funded development

["COFFMAN Steven" <SCoffman@COVANSYS.com>]

Hi,
I've contributed two video cards to driver maintainers in the past by
figuring out who wrote drivers for similar cards, contacting them
individually, and mailing them the same card I had, no strings attached.
One produced a working driver, the other did not, and I was fine with
both outcomes.

Is there an easier or better way for individual users such as myself to
directly assist XFree86 development financially? Where could I send my
money that would be useful? Xfree86.org? DRI? Tungsten Graphics?
Individual developers? What would be a minimum contribution to cover the
overhead of accepting such donations?

I recognize this could be problematic. Some cards have insufficient
technical documentation even if earmarked funds are contributed.
Earmarked contributions may be insufficient to cover even purchasing the
hardware for testing. Earmarked funds do nothing for sponsoring unknown
future innovations. A funded, well-intentioned developer may not deliver
driver for a variety of reasons.

Or do you recommend that I only indirectly support XFree86 by purchasing
the boxed packages that are produced by companies that sponsor XFree86
development?

No offense intended by this. I appreciate the dedicated effort that many
volunteers have put forward without any renumeration, and of the
contributions made by those who did so as work for corporations.

-Steve