A developer behind the 90s.dev project is experimenting with a new approach to funding open source development. Instead of traditional donation tiers, they're proposing an hourly payment system where contributors pay $25 USD per hour of development work through GitHub Sponsors.
The 90s.dev project aims to recreate a nostalgic 1990s operating system environment entirely within web browsers. The developer envisions it as a complete retro development platform suitable for game creation, featuring code editors, sprite tools, animation software, and debugging utilities. The system is designed to be decentralized, allowing users to import applications from anywhere on the web as long as they support the 90s.dev API.
Funding Model Details
- Proposed rate: $25 USD per hour of development work
- Platform: GitHub Sponsors
- Payment structure: Contributors specify amount, developer works 1 hour per $25 received
- Alternative platforms suggested: BuyMeACoffee, LiberaPay, Patreon
Technical Implementation and Browser Compatibility
The project relies heavily on modern web technologies including web workers, broadcast channels, and message ports. However, some users have reported display issues with certain browsers. One community member noted that the main page appears as white text on a white background in Vivaldi browser, making content invisible until selected with a mouse. The developer acknowledged these rendering problems and requested bug reports to address browser compatibility issues.
The project also includes creative touches like a Windows 95-inspired screensaver that activates after periods of inactivity, displaying colorful floating bubbles across the page.
Development Timeline
- Duration: ~3 months intensive development
- Work schedule: 14 hours/day, 6-7 days per week
- Technologies learned: Web workers, broadcast channels, message ports
- Current status: Seeking funding to continue development
Funding Model Challenges and Community Response
The proposed hourly funding approach has sparked debate about its viability. Community members have expressed skepticism about whether GitHub Sponsors can generate sufficient income for full-time development work. Critics point out that even if all 113 commenters from the previous announcement contributed $25 USD monthly, it wouldn't reach the equivalent of a full-time hourly wage.
This project is rather niche and your description of it is somewhat confusing. Maybe you could use the open source framework you've created to produce a paid game or app that would be easier to monetize.
The developer has clarified that full-time income isn't the primary goal. Instead, they view this as an experiment in open source funding methods. They've also suggested alternative platforms like BuyMeACoffee, LiberaPay, and Patreon as additional funding options.
Development History and Future Plans
The creator invested approximately three months of intensive work on the project, coding 14 hours daily for 6-7 days per week before running out of savings. The project consists of two main repositories: the application source code and documentation, both available on GitHub.
Despite the funding challenges, the developer remains committed to the vision of recreating the development environment that many programmers experienced during the 1990s. The project represents an attempt to blend nostalgia with modern web capabilities, though its niche appeal may limit mainstream adoption.
The community discussion reveals both enthusiasm for the nostalgic concept and practical concerns about sustainable funding for specialized open source projects. Whether this experimental funding model succeeds could influence how other developers approach monetizing front-end focused open source work.
Reference: Requesting funding for 90s.dev