Linux is free to download. So who pays the people making it? In this video, I look at how Linux development is funded and why businesses pay for support, security and services around open-source software.
Linux isn’t a company
We start with the Linux kernel: the part that sits between software and hardware. Distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian and Fedora build around it. There isn’t a Linux sales department sending you an invoice every time you install it.
I explain how contributors and maintainers work together, where Linus Torvalds fits in, and the role of the Linux Foundation.
What businesses actually pay for
If a business depends on its servers, it needs more than a download. It may pay for support, long-term maintenance, security services and certification. Red Hat and Canonical are examples of companies building businesses around those needs.
Companies also contribute developers and code because they use Linux themselves. Sharing a common foundation means they don’t each have to build an operating system from scratch.
From cloud services to Home Assistant
Cloud customers pay for computing resources and the services around them. I also look at Home Assistant, where optional services and hardware help fund development.
The useful distinction is that software can be available without a licence fee while the people and businesses around it still earn money. Open source describes the freedoms provided by a licence; it doesn’t require every product or service to be free of charge.
No command-line lesson required. Just a plain-English look at who pays for Linux and how the whole thing keeps going.