Hi all,
I'd just like to comment on the exchange below, from my perspective:
Then there is a number of donors who ask to stop the recurring donation. Some of them provide a reason, which in some cases is that he wanted to donate once and not on a recurring basis, in some cases lack of money, and in some other because they don't use the software anymore (no bug or other technical reason provided).
A small number of donors block donations because the software doesn't fit their needs or is too difficult to use (again, without providing any technical reason or a bug).
You should always consider the fact that only a very small number of users is capable of spotting bugs, as for them the software always works as intended. It took me several years to get a marginal understanding of bugs, and I have been working in technology environments since 1982. The majority of users is technically dumb, including people who are supposed to be competent, and this is just a fact.
Also, in case it is a concrete problem that stops them donating any
longer, please do you have an opportunity to file bugzilla tickets for
such cases?
Since 2013, not a single user has related stopping donations with bugs, while some donors have related their donation to solving bugs.
Were I a recurring business donor, I would do this, in the event I wanted to stop donating and a particular bug or bugs were preventing me from using LibreOffice in my business. Mind you, to be honest, even then, I personally wouldn't have much expectation of the situation changing.
One of the reasons I'm not a recurring donor is because I have to ask myself why, as the manager of a small business, I would do that (I do use the "paid" versions from the Apple Store commercial entity though).
Do I feel the need for some kind of ROI ? I would argue that, yes, I do. After all, if I am prepared to pay a subscription to a business such as Microsoft for its online product offering, or take out a Google Workspace subscription, then for the amount I pay out for the small number of users in the business, I would argue that contributing a similar monthly amount to the LibreOffice project entitles me to something other than a free download for my OS of choice.
This is where the rationale of the well-wishing world of an OSS software foundation and its relation to small business users and potential donors hits the rails of reality hard.
Of course, I could give out of the kindness of my heart, and have done in the very distant past - but in business, and especially small business, my outgoings are not ruled by my heart, they are ruled by my bottom line.
I would then argue that if I perceived that any donation I might make might actually go toward fixing one of the bugs that affects me, I could see a stronger business case for repeat donations. Obviously, if a bug I reported 10 years ago is still laying around untouched, I might come to the realisation that no one is ever going to fix it and stop donating as a result.
Currently, I do not see that. It certainly isn't the case with the commercial entity, whose own business criteria and priorities are clearly not the same as mine. Fair enough, as a business we all have to make money, but then an inevitable decision will be taken to stop using the commercial entity's offering, and possibly, even probably, stop using LibreOffice altogether.
I also know we've had the discussion about bug bounties before and gone round and round - without result.
I wish there was some alternative that would appeal to people in a situation like the one I find myself in. Currently, none of the ways of financially contributing are appealing, save as a charitable benefactor with no expectations whatsoever. As an individual person, I might well do that - as a business with other more pressing demands on my pocket, not so much.
I'm not even sure that there is a solution to the above.
Alex
