In this special bonus episode, Matt and Liam dive deep into a question that’s been simmering beneath the surface: Is the .NET ecosystem heading for trouble?
From the IdentityServer “rug pull” to Jimmy Bogard’s recent move to commercialise Automapper and MediatR, we explore what it means when open-source maintainers shift to paid models, and how the community responds. Is this a betrayal, or simply what’s needed to sustain the tools we all rely on?
We discuss:
- How .NET’s open-source soul is clashing with enterprise realities
- Why frustration is growing—among maintainers and users alike
- The moral dilemma of building businesses on free tools
- Whether .NET is falling back into its “enterprise-only” trap
- What needs to change for .NET open source to survive—and thrive
We wrap by proposing a live community conversation on the future of .NET OSS. If you’re a maintainer, contributor, or just someone who cares deeply about the ecosystem, stay tuned. We want your voice in the next round!
Any Likes 👍, Shares 📣, Subscriptions 🔔, and Love ❤️ go a long way to helping us continue this podcast.
Cheers! 🍻
🍻 Tonight’s Drinks 🍻
Matt - Wild Yak Pacific Ale (Linking to Dan Murphy’s because - long story, they sold and sold again and neither parent company provides a website for the brand)
Liam - Archie Rose Single Malt Whisky