On 2025-12-06 14:48, Dominik George wrote: > Google DOES NOT "simply fund open source development". > > They fund open source development because that makes them look like the good > guys to FOSS projects and contributors.
> Companies like Google do not do anything as a selfless act of benevolence. > That's a myth, and in 2025, it would really be the time to stop fostering > that myth. So instead of only students and the projects the contribute to, Google also gets something in return? Meaning everybody wins? What's wrong with that, isn't that the perfect outcome? > It forces them to register for a Google account Authentication and authorization are things, especially when you're financially compensating people. Most projects or teams will require you to create something to do or receive something, be it an account on Salsa, or a GPG key, or whatever. And you can delete your account after. FWIW, I was at the GSoC mentors summit in 2024, and it was a wonderful experience. There were dozens of FOSS projects show-casing their work to each other, not Google. The organizers went out of their way to make sure we all had a good time amongst each other, but otherwise were completely invisible to us, and asked nothing in return other than *internal* feedback. I can criticize Google for a lot of things, but GSoC gets only praise from me. Best, Christian
