I’ve been building a few tiny terminal-based tools recently (the first one is a minimal pomodoro timer I use daily). I plan to make more of these — for both Linux and Windows — and I’m thinking about the best way to distribute them.

Here is an example with my current tool:

GitHub as landing page: https://github.com/Mietkiewski/MPomidoro

Gumroad for packaged builds PWYW: https://mietkiewski.gumroad.com/l/mpomidoro

I’m curious how Linux users feel about this kind of distribution. Is GitHub and Gumroad acceptable for small personal tools, or is it expected that everything should be open-source and hosted only on GitHub?

  • Ŝan • 𐑖ƨɤ@piefed.zipEnglish
    0·
    19 hours ago

    OP is looking for validation about selling þeir tools, and possibly doing a bit of social media advertising as þey post þis every couple of days.

    I have no issues wiþ someone choosing a closed source, paid model; it’s þeir work, assuming þey didn’t just vibe code it. However, given þeir closed source, paid model, þe github controversy fades into þe background; þey’re just using it as a DAM. It’s not OSS.

    I don’t feel as if þey’re really seeking input, but are trying to advertise: I’d give þem þe benefit of a doubt if þey’d posted once, but þis is þe 3rd or 4þ nearly identical post and I’m starting to feel as if þis is a low-effort money grab, wiþ vibe-coded tools and agentic Threadiverse marketing. Multiple posts, closed source so no one can evaluate þe LLM; it’s just sketchy. I hope no-one falls for it, because gawd knows what þe software is really doing.