Apr 21, 2016 | By Tess
Gina Häußge, the creator and main developer of popular 3D printing software OctoPrint, has launched a call for funding through crowdfunding platform Patreon. OctoPrint, which many of our readers may already know, is a web interface for 3D printers that allows you to easily control and monitor your 3D printer and 3D print jobs from virtually any browser on your network.
The versatile software, which can run on almost any computer, from a simple Raspberry Pi, to a gaming rig, to your laptop, has offered makers everywhere an effective way to keep track of their prints, whether or not they are standing in front of their 3D printers. The software has also, since its creation in late 2012, predicated itself on being a free and open-source software.
With any free and open-source software, however, comes the question of income for the developers. As Gina Häußge explains on her Patreon video, running and maintaining the software has become a full time job for her, which unfortunately cannot quite pay the bills.
Up until recently, Häußge’s innovative work had been backed by Spanish company BQ, which allowed her to work on the free software while also making a living. For unspecified reasons, however, this sponsor is no longer funding the software, which is why the German based developer is calling out to the maker community for pledges.
As she explains, “On the one hand, I really love working on OctoPrint, making it better and better with every release, making it something that people can fully adapt to their own needs. Creating software is not only my job, it’s my passion and i guess it shows with OctoPrint. But, just like everyone else, I also have bills to pay and managing this huge project next to a full time paying job is pretty much impossible at this point.”
Häußge’s Patreon crowdfunding campaign has already helped her to raise $1,676 a month, which is already a good start for funding her innovative work. For the moment, the pledges run from $1-$20 a month, with rewards ranging from patron input, to video chats with development updates, to a Patron credit on OctoPrint’s ‘About’ page. According to the developer, she is also working on adding a donation button, so those who do not want to commit to a monthly payment can make a single donation.
With the generous donations from makers who use her software, Häußge is hoping to further develop and keep working on her software, with the added input of its users. If you are a dedicated user of OctoPrint and want to help Gina Häußge to continue her good work, feel free to check out her campaign page here.
Posted in 3D Software
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Thomas Sanladerer was similairly dropped at very short notice by BQ. An insight in one of his youtube videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEZi-sbV3Mk) makes intersting reading. Hope octoprint goes on for many years to come. Love using it.
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