Getting more involved with the ASF at large, coding time gets eaten up by overhead time, which can be summarized as 'managing projects'. A big part of this time is not actively managing, but reading coding- and non-coding-related mailing lists. And believe me, there is a lot to read these days.

Anyway, it's time to get some coding time back. There are three accounts to take from: 'family time', said 'ASF overhead time' or 'working time'. I'll try for the last one, since reducing the other ones is not really an option. And maybe, since my current customer project doesn't max me out 100%, this might be a good choice.

Being a freelancer, it's only going to work if I get paid for working on Open Source. And there are some big, important projects ahead:

• getting Apache Vysper, the only ASL licensed open source XMPP server implementation ready for prime time (heard of "Google Wave" already?),
• moving JAMES over into this century,
• creating a modularized rsync implementation in Java (a private project of mine, waiting to be open-sourced),
• getting a brilliant new webmail project at the ASF started (here's the code).

Now, here's the deal: If you sponsor me, I'll work on one if these projects, as your contractor, as many days as we agree on. One or more goals may be defined. The smallest working unit is a day (8hrs). Only coding time will count (including fixing bugs and creating documentation). Anything related to PM is still booked on the 'open source overhead' account, you'll have nothing to do with that.

You'll get an excellent discount rate from my regular closed source rate. Any output will go to the project under the ASL2.0, I retain copyright, the whole work is done in public. For any further work, customization or support not going directly to the project (but you) my regular rate applies.

This means: You control what I will be working on during sponsored time. If the project community doesn't accept my work, you'll get it instead. But our choice of Todos will make sure that it's something the whole project will benefit from and is very likely to be accepted.

If you think this could work out for you and you have a particular goal in mind get in contact with me at open.work@brainlounge.de.