Thread:Project:WikiProject Extensions/Ideas/Link within Extension to allow developers to solicit donations/reply (13)


 * "..but this sort of thing is out of the scope of the wmf (imho)"

I can understand and certainly respect that perspective, but I also think there's been valid points about the value third-party extension developers bring to WMF. It's true that not every extension developer is a gem, but neither is every enWP admin (and editors..well....) or recipient of volunteer (participation, etc.) grants. Maybe we should do a study so we can cite a stat here, but I suspect a reasonable percentage are lured because of third-party projects. I suspect that will only increase as companies like Microsoft begin to further implement MediaWiki as a package offered in their cloud server solutions.

Plus, you could argue, that the above about poor maintenance and lack of quality could in part be resolved by things like grants. Money is a great incentive to encourage folks to step up their game and bring more to the table. :)

Generally, WMF now has grants to support a number of initiatives. I think asking for one that supports something developer specific isn't unreasonable - and this seems like a good place that wouldn't overwhelm the core dev team.

All of that said, I'm still on the fence about what would be a wise way to approach this...
 * Allowing links to some approved or generally accepted list of "known" payment processors (PayPal, Google Checkout, etc.) that could remove WMF from liability and provide some sense of quality control that we're not sending you to Anonymous's gate..
 * Increased effort on MW.org to WMF fundraise and then 1-2 developer specific grants (or just the grants and no fundraising..)
 * Supported effort to solicit corporate sponsors for developer funds (chapter? another c3 sounds like a lot of work..)
 * Just play dumb to the whole thing and consider a buyer be warned essay should they start popping up?
 * Wikipage that coordinates donor/developer connections
 * Really quality (and regularly scheduled) "contests" with prizes like gift cards, MacBooks, etc. (sponsored?)
 * Turn into a popularity/vanity contest?
 * Do something crazy like write up a developers' bill of rights and just attempt to, as a devo community, decree they get links if they so need them :)
 * As if we could get the devo community to agree on what to name a wikipage to house a bill of rights..let alone the content.. ;)