Post B35wqfYAFUN2WNOnR2 by jhoward@social.sdf.org
(DIR) More posts by jhoward@social.sdf.org
(DIR) Post #B33cGTEy9SGYWFxjua by apps@toot.fedilab.app
2026-02-06T21:07:09Z
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As the main developer of Fedilab, I've never used Open Collective funds for personal needs like buying a phone or paying repairs (yes, plugging/unplugging daily has consequences). I feel uncomfortable about how to use those funds. In April I'll need to pay for server hosting. I also need a more powerful computer. Are those kinds of expenses ok for you? Like repairing my phone due to a worn-out USB connector?
(DIR) Post #B33cpJbfxframBCNBg by orci@mastodon.social
2026-02-06T21:11:46Z
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@appsI approve ✅
(DIR) Post #B33dU3Y8Z9wCqgyDMu by HurricaneWeasel@mastodon.world
2026-02-06T21:13:58Z
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@appsAbsolutely yes. :thumbs_up_killua:
(DIR) Post #B33eIATH6dAonLaheK by ScriptFanix@maly.io
2026-02-06T21:15:53Z
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@apps Totally makes sense; Can't dev a phone app without a phone!
(DIR) Post #B33eaFk2FXeuLx3PuK by DamonHD@mastodon.social
2026-02-06T21:16:20Z
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@apps I don't know your project, but those would be acceptable to me.I help run a voluntary group and have similar worries about dipping my hands in the money pot for real expenses, but I think that you're fine!
(DIR) Post #B33fAin3iyWYs4rG1g by catsalad@infosec.exchange
2026-02-06T21:18:44Z
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@apps Those expenses support you which helps the app development. Those are PERFECTLY acceptable!
(DIR) Post #B33fVErICli87YcbDs by Mehrad@fosstodon.org
2026-02-06T21:19:27Z
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@appsI donate via LiberaPay, and I believe you can use the funds for any purpose. Enjoy a good pizza and beer if you like 🤓Thanks for your contributions to Fediverse and FLOSS.
(DIR) Post #B33gjso4Zkgs1ff7wm by devSJR@fosstodon.org
2026-02-06T21:25:26Z
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@appsCan we just agree that boost = approve?
(DIR) Post #B33hUqxJH8L3taNcdE by apps@toot.fedilab.app
2026-02-06T21:28:27Z
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@MehradYes, Liberapay is really much simpler because you can even buy your food with it :) Thank you so much for helping!
(DIR) Post #B33i72P99m2GPMbm8u by futureisfoss@fosstodon.org
2026-02-06T21:29:44Z
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@appsYou have put a lot of effort into developing these apps, so you deserve the money people donated you. Now if the project have other major contributers then you can ask them about the matter as well, but I don't think they'll disagree much. Getting your phone repaired is important, and depending on the condition of your current laptop/PC getting a new one might also be necessary to continue your work - these are not useless spendings IMO.
(DIR) Post #B33kNL6TbOtWwXmCGW by TimePencil@infosec.exchange
2026-02-06T21:38:14Z
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@appsLook, the fact that you've even asked the question demonstrates you have a conscience and know right from wrong.If the project(s) were abandoned, but donations were still being accepted, that would be unconscionable. However, server fees, equipment repair or replacement, or anything needed to support the project would be fine.
(DIR) Post #B33lBnScRfD3N2C33Q by apps@toot.fedilab.app
2026-02-06T21:43:41Z
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@TimePencilThank you, I appreciate that. I was genuinely unsure whether repairing my phone felt right, even though it's directly caused by development and testing. Your words help.
(DIR) Post #B33lqvC8avBvEM5tOS by dnkrupinski@hannover.town
2026-02-06T21:47:38Z
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@apps Yes.
(DIR) Post #B33oPHJ15oNTYop1CC by toxomat@social.tchncs.de
2026-02-06T22:07:48Z
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@appsPerfecly ok. I'd compare to what a decent employer would supply so you can do the job.And thank you so much for the best Mastodon (my main use case) client ever!#fedilab #mastodon #fediverse
(DIR) Post #B33pedrDd1R3nji3MG by weirdmustard@cyberpunk.lol
2026-02-06T22:20:01Z
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@apps These are all absolutely fine. Even If you'd make it a really good computer you "part-time" use for gaming. You need to be able to work comfortably without every little computation or rendering taking ages. If you'd tell us that actually you also need a new Playstation bcs you wanna port it, I'd say that mayyyy stretch it a bit.
(DIR) Post #B33rIhHYPktTxbgvJY by haui@mastodon.giftedmc.com
2026-02-06T22:31:54Z
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@appsAs a dev, ceo and donator at different times, I suggest looking at it like this:If you did not do this job youre getting paid for (open collective), would you have the amount of costs you have now (you wouldnt) and if you do, they're personal (rent, food, vacation) and if not, they're work related (mobile dev = mobile phone business expense, same for laptop that wears out etc.)If you want to feel extra ethical, buy a dedicated work phone that is separate which you use the money for.
(DIR) Post #B33sf4gaBG5Cs2dH4S by liaizon@social.wake.st
2026-02-06T22:49:33Z
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@apps use the money!
(DIR) Post #B33yCnJ1nwrgaIVsZ6 by raphaelmorgan@disabled.social
2026-02-06T23:55:42Z
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@apps idk, estimate how much labor you've spent on this project, multiply by a living wage, and that's approximately the amount of money that I think you should spend however you need or even want to 🤷 the expenses of a tech project include the labor of the workers, which includes the living requirements of the workersPlus, in this case, they seem like things that also affect your ability to work on this project regardless of your ability to live, which imo is no longer a personal expense
(DIR) Post #B344gU9w9ghxcAnmZk by Progenitus@det.social
2026-02-07T01:17:00Z
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@apps I'm fine with everything. Use them for things you need. To maybe ease your mind a bit: A computer also supports app development. And a phone is needed for testing the app. Emulators can only bring you so far. So that would be something directly benefiting app development.
(DIR) Post #B346NCcRLSwNcY4DJo by LibreFaso@hostux.social
2026-02-07T01:35:22Z
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@apps It really depends on what you wrote on the Open Collective requests.My plans if the LibreFaso project was ever successful enough to justify a full-time job¹ was to have a separate tip jar for the project-related expenses and for my own salary, so that people could choose what they want to fund.Basically, as long as you're entirely transparent, it should be fine.¹it's not going in that direction, alas
(DIR) Post #B34BIU7jKr3uEXGxJg by TimePencil@infosec.exchange
2026-02-07T03:01:59Z
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@appsYou're welcome!A lawyer mate of mine once told me, "*Anybody* can steal from an employer, if they are a trusted employee."Now, donors are not your employer, but they are your supporters, and they trust you. As you know "right from wrong" you'll also know if you've abused that trust.Be open and honest, apply good judgement, and you'll be fine!
(DIR) Post #B34afeNPsXnHXyki9o by dzwiedziu@mastodon.social
2026-02-07T08:58:06Z
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@appsDevelopers need food and working hardware to develop.As I'm not donating I can only hope that others agree. As for USB try magnetic connectors. Just check them with an USB cable tester, as I've just learned that my 24-pin connector is USB 2.0 only.
(DIR) Post #B35BirMxj23t12vwm0 by palindromi@troet.cafe
2026-02-07T15:53:31Z
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@apps go for it.Mobile phoneserver billsare all needed for a development environment
(DIR) Post #B35DJ2jR3bpKdRGLOC by movodehe@social.tchncs.de
2026-02-07T16:10:57Z
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@apps TL;DR Absolutely ok 👌I donate to projects because I want them to stay and best case improve/ grow/... So if the money is used for anything that helps in that way I am happy. If that means you can work on the project half-time, full-time or whatever and spend the money on rent, food, cinema or anything else that makes you happy, that is great.I would stop donating if you became a multi-millionair. But I doubt we will ever have to worry about that ;)
(DIR) Post #B35GGjJKap5fgXdoOG by jaker@c.im
2026-02-07T16:34:20Z
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@apps💯 fine by me. Happy to boost fundraiser if you need one
(DIR) Post #B35wqfYAFUN2WNOnR2 by jhoward@social.sdf.org
2026-02-08T00:41:18Z
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@apps Seems perfectly reasonable to me. On the plugging / unplugging front, have you considered a sacrificial cable / connector board. We use these between dev boards and cables for hotplug or similar testing.
(DIR) Post #B36aTs4dW3fkrwGsyW by duncanlock@cosocial.ca
2026-02-08T08:05:11Z
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@appsYes! You do great work, spend my money on stuff that's related to you continuing to do that, please!