Once upon a time, there was a Bitcoin donation, and that has made all the difference. When that first 50 BTC donation was made, it came with it (a little later), a prescribed use:
"Our motives are not economical! It’s about the technology and the protocol. Please put it to good use for the development of GRIN. You keep working as you did in the past […] This is what we are honouring right now with these donations so that you can work freely […] without economic dependencies.”
The question in the last few years: What is the spirit of “put it to good use for the development of GRIN,” and how do we safeguard it while maximizing its impact on advancing the protocol?
I definitely understand the council (both councils), have a general, but very real fiduciary responsibility to the donor(s) to carry out the intent above. So where are we now?
In my experience the last couple of years, the donation has been a source of debate, division, and arguably detriment, to the “development of GRIN.” This, contributing to many talented developers leaving due to in-fighting or otherwise feeling disenchanted with the paralysis of progress. We are an experimental e-currency with real-world people and responsibilities. How do we return to that core energy of innovation, excitement about the future, and incidentally attract new eyes and talent to the protocol?
Consider the following: More bounties, not less. I know this will be counter-intuitive to some, but done wisely, can lead to a boom of development and influx of the RIGHT attention.
- Let developers name their own contribution and amount of bounty.
- Enforce the necessary documentation alongside receipt of payment.
Perhaps I’m over-simplifying, but I feel this would re-establish the narrative “Ask not what GRIN can do for you; ask what you can do for GRIN.” Not all bounty requests would have to be approved, but I’d envsion something akin to the “bug bash,” where developers within the community and outside, would be able to showcase his or her talents. This of course would need stipulations, quality control, over several months etc.
- Must be consensus-compatible and approved by either council
- Might require a more liberal spending guideline, (perhaps a pre-allocated 10 BTC), but it would be an investment.
“What can YOU do for GRIN?” “Come see what all the fuss is about”
-Come take a look at the protocol!
-documents
-documents
-Got it? Have an idea? Show us what you got!
-template for submission
-timetable/expecations
I think this helps reverse the centralizing “We need this next for Grin!” which has seemed to stagnate developement by putting Grin in a bottle, and allows outside creativity exposure to flow inward.
Just an idea that I think flips the coin and has the ability to recapture the energy of innovation, while honoring the intent of "Not economical, but for the “technology and protocol.” Thanks for your consideration and time.