From 63f00ef6f3f64096347073279e7ec6a32edf9877 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "U. Bruhin" Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:36:11 +0700 Subject: [PATCH] FAQ: Add information about commercial aspects --- content/help/faq/index.adoc | 109 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 109 insertions(+) diff --git a/content/help/faq/index.adoc b/content/help/faq/index.adoc index abf832b..76348c6 100644 --- a/content/help/faq/index.adoc +++ b/content/help/faq/index.adoc @@ -80,3 +80,112 @@ https://librepcb.org/docs/quickstart/create-library-elements/[add the elements y In addition, you could ask in https://librepcb.discourse.group/[our forum] if other users already created the library elements you need. + +[#can-i-order-only-through-librepcb-fab] +=== Can I order the PCB only through LibrePCB Fab? + +No! Of course you can always export traditional production data (i.e. Gerber +files) and order wherever you want. Although LibrePCB Fab makes life easier, +we understand that you might not be happy with the provided manufacturers or +you like to have more control over the ordering process (e.g. reviewing Gerber +files). + +In our opinion, LibrePCB Fab is a win-win-win situation because users profit +from a simple and quick order process (without any drawback at all!), the +LibrePCB project profits from an additional income to fund the development, +and manufacturers profit from gaining more customers and publicity. Thus it +is a perfect way to support the LibrePCB project. + +If you still don't like it for some reason, just don't use it -- we're +totally fine with that and we're committed to keep the traditional production +data export intact since we strongly belive in freedom. Choosing a PCB +manufacturer must always be up to you. + +[#who-operates-librepcb] +=== Who operates LibrePCB? Is there a company behind it? + +LibrePCB is an open-source project founded and coordinated by +https://github.com/ubruhin[@ubruhin]. Although he's the main developer, the +project receives lots of contributions from the community -- for example +translations, documentation and code contributions. + +There is no company involved in operating the project (see also +<>), and the project is not following +any commercial interests. + +[#how-is-librepcb-related-to-sponsors] +=== How is LibrePCB related to its sponsors? + +LibrePCB has several commercial sponsors which support the project in different +ways. Some are donating money, some are providing a particular service we need +to operate the project (e.g. webhosting). In return, we list them on our +website as a simple and honest form of publicity. We think this is a very fair +deal since LibrePCB users profit from getting a continuously developed EDA +suite free of charge(!) without any downsides at all (no advertisement in the +application etc.). + +Note that decision-making is not impacted by sponsors. We only decide about +features from the user's point of view, not by commercial interests of +sponsors. Also we take privacy very serious -- even LibrePCB Fab does not +forward any data to the underlying manufacturers unless you explicitly +choose to forward the project to them. + +[#what-is-the-donated-or-sponsored-money-used-for] +=== What is the donated money used for? + +To operate the LibrePCB project, various things directly cost money. +For example: + +Virtual server:: + We need a virtual server for hosting the website, library manager API, + fabrication service, various automation tools etc. Actually our current + server setup would cost us at least 500 USD every year, but thanks to our + sponsor luckily we get it for free so the donated money is not used for that. + +Hardware:: + From time to time, some hardware might be needed. For example to test + LibrePCB on macOS, we bought a Mac Mini on the second-hand market. + +Conferences:: + When presenting LibrePCB at conferences (e.g. FOSDEM), we need to buy + flight tickets, hotels etc. to attend. + +However, operating a large and complex project like LibrePCB mainly takes a +lot of time. At first glance you might only see the effort spent for +development of the application. But in total, there are many different +tasks which need to be done: + +Application development:: + The most obvious and most time consuming part is to actually develop + the application (new features, bugfixes etc.). + +Website & webservice development:: + Developing & maintaining the website, the API webservice, the + fabrication service, documentation builder, translations synchronizing + script, ... + +Server administration:: + The virtual server is entirely set up and maintained by ourselves so we + regularly need to keep it up to date, fix problems, monitor it etc. + +Support:: + Reproducing bug reports, answering user questions, picking up feature + requests, responding to emails from people not reading the "there's no free + email support" statement, ... + +Documentation:: + Writing good documentation, creating expressive screenshots and useful video + tutorials is not only quite difficult but also very very time consuming. + +Sponsorings coordination:: + Both financial and in-kind sponsorings are a manual task, often requiring + lots of communication between the involved parties (many emails, sometimes + videocalls). + +This list is by far not complete, but hopefully you now have a rough idea +about the involved effort to operate the LibrePCB project and understand that +all this cannot be done anymore by a volunteer in free time. Therefore the +project founder and main developer https://github.com/ubruhin[@ubruhin] started +to work full time on LibrePCB and thus heavily relies on donations and +sponsorings to pay the rent, food etc. Any donated money thus goes to him +and he'll spend it for the mentioned usage.