Github launches 'sponsor-only' repository to unlock new features based on sponsorship amount

This article is transferred from OSCHINA
Editor: Rocchi

As companies give back to the voice of open source authors, Github has launched a new "sponsor repository": this repository can only be accessed by sponsors, developers can set sponsorship levels (up to ten) according to the amount of sponsorship, and each level of sponsorship Businesses enjoy different functions. After the sponsor provides the sponsorship amount defined by the developer, its various access functions are automatically issued by the GitHub platform. Once the sponsor stops funding, the access qualification will be automatically withdrawn.

Developers can provide different functions for different levels of sponsors, and the welcome words for different levels of sponsorship can also be customized. For example, if you sponsor $10, you can automatically reply "Thank you", and if you sponsor $10,000, you can automatically reply "Love you":

This type of warehouse can also set up full sponsorship (one-time payment)/monthly sponsorship (monthly payment), and you can also customize the minimum sponsorship amount:

Also, if a repository is a "sponsor-only repository", the Issue interface will suggest the user to sponsor the project:

According to Jessica Lord, Head of Sponsored Products at GitHub, this type of repository is designed to improve developer and sponsor interaction, and can be roughly divided into the following three uses:

• Sponsorware: Rewards from open source projects by only giving sponsors access to project repositories.
• Discussion: Communicate with sponsors in this repository for troubleshooting, new feature discussions, and more.
• Early Access: Give sponsors an early look at/experience the content of the project before it is open sourced.

It's also important to note that any sponsorship received from GitHub must be taxed as required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

From the developer level, this is a good thing, at least the time and energy you can put in can see the benefits, and you have the motivation to persevere. But as for whether this type of warehouse still belongs to the category of open source? Can this open source method be accepted and widely promoted by the public? I believe that everyone has different opinions on these questions, and only time can answer them.

Click the link for more details:

https://github.blog/2022-02-02-new-sponsors-only-repositories-custom-amounts-and-more/