Quoting Zayd Ahmed (2021-08-04 22:09:47)
> Hello everyone for the responses and I appreciate the help. When I
> originally sent this message I just saw the contact information on the
> Debian website and didn’t realize that this was a chain email. I was
> just looking to speak with someone at Debian that could answer my
> question but it seems there is no actual organization at Debian like
> other enterprise Linux distros. I contacted Canonical, Red Hat, and
> SUSE and it seems they have trainings but those are more enterprise
> Linux distributions. Was just wondering if there was a path to having
> a career in Linux while focusing on Debian but you probably have to
> work with one of those enterprise organizations in order to find a
> career.
You wanted to talk about your options for earning money with Debian, and
you contacted us at the proper place: This mailinglist _is_ where we
talk together about non-technical parts of developing Debian which
includes how we attract new developers.
To answer your question: Yes, there are several paths to make a living
from your passion with Debian, besides taking a job with an enterprise
company and hope that they will let you spend some of "their" time to
focus on Debian.
One approach is to become an independent self-employed contractor,
taking smaller jobs at multiple companies (which will then more often be
smaller companies that don't need you full time). That's what I have
done for the past 25 years, and I know I am not the only one.
Freedom is simple but not easy.
Easier (although not super easy: life is not super easy) is - as you
sort-of indicate yourself - to ask employment departments of enterprise
companies if they want to cover your living costs and tell you what to
do (and then hope that they will give you tasks related to your passions
for Debian).
Simpler is to live out your passion, and then try find someone
appreciating that work of yours and willing to cover your living costs.
But then more complex to operate like that - e.g. how to survive periods
of having little or no income.
Personally, my main approach to stay free to work on my passions has
been to reduce living costs: It is often cheaper (but maybe less fun, if
you want a social life in meatspace) to live in the country side than in
larger cities. If is cheaper (but less comfortable) to live in a room
than in an apartment or a house. Avoid debt: banks want their money
back, and if they cannot have that in a steady flow then they charge
extra. None of that is specific to Debian, however - sorry if I am
pointing out things already obvious to you.
I wish you the best of luck, whichever path you choose to take - and
welcome you to ask questions here again.
You might also discuss more casually at our various IRC channels.
Kind regards,
- Jonas
--
* Jonas Smedegaard - idealist & Internet-arkitekt
* Tlf.: +45 40843136 Website: http://dr.jones.dk/
[x] quote me freely [ ] ask before reusing [ ] keep private