> Previously, you would prioritize traction among developers over focusing on revenue.

A.k.a. using open source as a marketing tactic to lure in customers, only to do a rug pull once the business gains enough momentum.

> But that does not work in 2025.

Good. It is an insidious practice. There are very few projects that actually do this properly without turning their backs on the users who made their products popular in the first place.

> You are expected to make money from the get-go and are left with only enterprise customers and boy, that category is hard, as everyone is competing for that slice.

The strategy of delivering valuable products that benefit users without exploiting them has always existed. The thing is that many companies choose the greedy and user hostile path, instead of running a sustainable business that delivers value to humanity and not just to shareholders, which is much more difficult. So I have no sympathy towards these companies.