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Some parts of the server were closed source for a bit. No longer the case. Also people got upset that the developers used the product funding to pay for their p

Some parts of the server were closed source for a bit. No longer the case. Also people got upset that the developers used the product funding to pay for their personal expenses. The idea is folks want the developers to isolate all the money they make from this project and use it to only pay expenses directly related to this project. If they need to eat or something they should get a job, presumably. https://www.comaps.app/news/2025-04-16/1/?ref=itsfoss.com https://www.comaps.app/news/2025-04-16/1/?ref=itsfoss.com

beart 2mo ago
> If they need to eat or something they should get a job, presumably. The tone of this comment is quite different from the text of the open letter to which you refer. Specifically this section. I don't have any personal knowledge either way, but this stood out to me. > As it was revealed by Roman @rtsisyk it wasn't unusual for the Shareholders to use project's donations as their own money e.g. Alexander @biodranik paid for his personal holiday trip expenses this way. At the same time all other contributors were consistently denied any access to any financial information (even to the totals of money donated/spent). (It's fine for developers to be reimbursed for their hard work, but it should be done in a fair, transparent and accountable way.)
- cryo32 2mo ago
  Going on holiday is why I work. And I use organic maps when I’m on holiday. And donate. Good luck to them.
  - JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
    > And donate How do you square this with Organic Maps being organised as a for-profit entity?
    - cryo32 2mo ago
      Same as when I donate money to Apple.
      - yellowapple 2mo ago
        You donate money to Apple?
        cryo32 2mo ago
        Yes. Wilfully.
        JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
        So yeah, if you donate money to Apple, Inc., Organic Maps makes sense for you. For everyone else, it seems like a scam.
        u8080 2mo ago
        Calling developers who providing you a great OSS app a scam because you don't like how project run is very rude imo
        TFNA 2mo ago
        It is not common for American for-profit corporations to accept donations. What you are paying is a retail price for Apple products. (Post edited after a check of the legality, but donating to Apple would still be highly unusual, and if the parent admits to doing this, he’s not going to get any less grief.)
        JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
        > As a USA for-profit corporation, Apple is unable to accept donations I don't think this is true. You can donate to a for-profit corporation. It just counts as income to them and isn't deductible to you.
- physicalecon 2mo ago
  [dead]
- u8080 2mo ago
  >(even to the totals of money donated/spent). (It's fine for developers to be reimbursed for their hard work, but it should be done in a fair, transparent and accountable way.) Hardly disagree with this claim. Donation is something you give without any expected usage - otherwise it is a fundraising, payment, investment, etc.
pastk 2mo ago
> Some parts of the server were closed source for a bit. No longer the case. In fact, nowadays there are many more closed parts in OM's map generator - many OM's bigger new features like hiking, cycling and bus routes depend on closed source improvements to the map generator. And some binary files required to build the app (e.g. packed_polygons.bin) are nowadays distributed under a custom non-FOSS data license. I.e. nowadays its basically impossible to fork OM as is with all its features - and the "right to fork" is a cornerstone of FOSS. Also ref to: https://isitreallyfoss.com/projects/organic-maps/ https://isitreallyfoss.com/projects/organic-maps/
- physicalecon 2mo ago
  [dead]
int_19h 2mo ago
I think it's fair for people to be surprised when their donations to the project are used for personal expenses when that is not clearly spelled out. There's nothing wrong with crowdfunding what is effectively a salary for a F/OSS project, but it needs to be explicit when soliciting donations.
- physicalecon 2mo ago
  The people that develop the project have needs like anyone else. That includes vacations.
  - int_19h 2mo ago
    And they are welcome to crowdfund for them. But they need to be explicit about what exactly the money is funding.
    - physicalecon 2mo ago
      [dead]

beart 2mo ago

> If they need to eat or something they should get a job, presumably. The tone of this comment is quite different from the text of the open letter to which you refer. Specifically this section. I don't have any personal knowledge either way, but this stood out to me. > As it was revealed by Roman @rtsisyk it wasn't unusual for the Shareholders to use project's donations as their own money e.g. Alexander @biodranik paid for his personal holiday trip expenses this way. At the same time all other contributors were consistently denied any access to any financial information (even to the totals of money donated/spent). (It's fine for developers to be reimbursed for their hard work, but it should be done in a fair, transparent and accountable way.)

cryo32 2mo ago
Going on holiday is why I work. And I use organic maps when I’m on holiday. And donate. Good luck to them.
- JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
  > And donate How do you square this with Organic Maps being organised as a for-profit entity?
  - cryo32 2mo ago
    Same as when I donate money to Apple.
    - yellowapple 2mo ago
      You donate money to Apple?
      - cryo32 2mo ago
        Yes. Wilfully.
        JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
        So yeah, if you donate money to Apple, Inc., Organic Maps makes sense for you. For everyone else, it seems like a scam.
        u8080 2mo ago
        Calling developers who providing you a great OSS app a scam because you don't like how project run is very rude imo
        TFNA 2mo ago
        It is not common for American for-profit corporations to accept donations. What you are paying is a retail price for Apple products. (Post edited after a check of the legality, but donating to Apple would still be highly unusual, and if the parent admits to doing this, he’s not going to get any less grief.)
        JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
        > As a USA for-profit corporation, Apple is unable to accept donations I don't think this is true. You can donate to a for-profit corporation. It just counts as income to them and isn't deductible to you.
physicalecon 2mo ago
[dead]
u8080 2mo ago
>(even to the totals of money donated/spent). (It's fine for developers to be reimbursed for their hard work, but it should be done in a fair, transparent and accountable way.) Hardly disagree with this claim. Donation is something you give without any expected usage - otherwise it is a fundraising, payment, investment, etc.

pastk 2mo ago

> Some parts of the server were closed source for a bit. No longer the case. In fact, nowadays there are many more closed parts in OM's map generator - many OM's bigger new features like hiking, cycling and bus routes depend on closed source improvements to the map generator. And some binary files required to build the app (e.g. packed_polygons.bin) are nowadays distributed under a custom non-FOSS data license. I.e. nowadays its basically impossible to fork OM as is with all its features - and the "right to fork" is a cornerstone of FOSS. Also ref to: https://isitreallyfoss.com/projects/organic-maps/ https://isitreallyfoss.com/projects/organic-maps/

physicalecon 2mo ago
[dead]

int_19h 2mo ago

I think it's fair for people to be surprised when their donations to the project are used for personal expenses when that is not clearly spelled out. There's nothing wrong with crowdfunding what is effectively a salary for a F/OSS project, but it needs to be explicit when soliciting donations.

physicalecon 2mo ago
The people that develop the project have needs like anyone else. That includes vacations.
- int_19h 2mo ago
  And they are welcome to crowdfund for them. But they need to be explicit about what exactly the money is funding.
  - physicalecon 2mo ago
    [dead]