The Linux Foundation expects revenue to reach $177 million this year

dcexpert

The Linux Foundation expects revenue to reach $177 million this year [Copy link]

Source: https://www.cnbeta.com/articles/tech/1211839.htm

The Linux Foundation, known for hosting numerous open source projects and managing the Linux kernel, organizing countless events, and employing various LF Fellows such as Linux Torvalds and Greg Kroah-Hartman, today released their 2021 Annual Report. The annual report outlines the progress they made during the year on various open source/Linux software, the current list of members, and other summaries of the work they have been doing during the year.

They also highlight their growth to over 1,000 members, serving 750 open source project communities, the demand for open source careers, and various diversity and inclusion metrics.

For those who are curious about the financial health of the Linux Foundation, they are forecasting revenue of $177 million in 2021. About 55% of this comes from membership fees and donations, about 26% comes from project support, and another 9.5% comes from training, and 8.9% comes from event sponsorships and registrations. Compared to their previous documents, this is a significant increase from $124 million in revenue in 2019 and $96 million in revenue in 2018... Going back a decade, in 2011, their revenue was only $15 million, less than 1/10 of what it is now.

However, the Foundation's income and expenses are not balanced, as the forecast expenditure this year is $180 million, of which 56% will be spent on project support, 12.5% on community infrastructure, 7.8% on enterprise operations, 7.4% on community training, 7.2% on community tools, 5.4% on community events, and 3.4% on Linux kernel support.

The Linux Foundation's 2021 Annual Report can be downloaded and read on the LinuxFoundation.org website.

Interestingly, the annual report faced some criticism as soon as it went online because the document was produced on MacOS using Adobe software products. They have done this in the past, and it was not uncommon to find Linux Foundation directors and other stakeholders using Apple MacBook products on macOS in public before the pandemic.

freebsder

The leading foundations such as Linux and Apache have reaped great rewards, but the open source organizations in the following tiers are in a bit of a plight.

dcexpert

freebsder posted on 2021-12-8 11:27 The leading foundations such as Linux and Apache have reaped great rewards, but the open source organizations in the lower echelons are in a bit of a pity.

Linux and Apache are actually the result of collaboration among large companies. Although they are open source, their main business logic still revolves around serving these large companies.

freebsder

dcexpert posted on 2021-12-8 15:03 Linux and Apache are actually made by large companies working together. Although they are open source, their main business logic still revolves around serving these large companies.

Yes, many companies hire people specifically to do open source.

led2015

I wish our income could be even a fraction of this level.