Interesting idea, I wonder about using it myself.

Let's say I'm a maintainer of an open source project on Github/Gitlab. How would you actually implement this deposit-refund loop in practice?

▲

rglullis 5 hours ago | parent [-]

I believe you are asking me in jest, but if you are genuine, this is what I would add to my CONTRIBUTING.md

``` # FIrst-time contributors

Due to the increased number of AI bots and low-effort contributions, we are being forced to add some friction for first-time contributors. PRs are closed for anyone not explicitly added to our list of authorized users.

To be accepted in the list, you must do one of the following:

- Show a history of meaningful contributions in projects from related technologies done before Jan 1st, 2023.

- Be vouched by one of the existing contributors in the core team

- (If you have github sponsors/polar/patreon) Be a sponsor for the project for the last 3 months)

- Submit a small payment, which will be held in escrow until your PR is accepted. The following methods are accepted (choose all that apply: paypal, SEPA, Crypto, Venmo, Pix, UPI, M-Pesa, etc) ```

▲

corps_and_code 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Oh no, I'm being genuine. Documenting the process itself wasn't what I was curious about, I was wondering how you'd go about your last bullet. Accepting lots of currencies can be hard, but I guess I'm not super familiar with online escrow services. I'm not sure how simple they can make that process, or who would pay the cost of using them (I assume they're not free).

I was also wondering how automated or manual you would envision the review process. I'm guessing your hope would be that the small deposit would stem the flow of submissions enough to make it all possible to review manually again, and you would also manually return all the payments sent to escrow?

	▲	rglullis 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yes, I'm assuming that adding requirement for payment would bring the number of requests down to a level which I could manage with a simple spreadsheet. Paypal/SEPA transfers are free in Europe. And even if I lived in the US and had to pay a small processor fee, I'd be more than willing to cover the $0.50 in fees if that meant I was receiving contributions from people who went through all the trouble.