> So instead of spending money the people should spend time and help to
> improve the libraries. There is much work to do, but yes - it's
> work, sometimes really hard work. And thats why the situation is so worse,
> people like to play with ruby in there freetime but they don't like to
> work on projects resulting in hundrets of fucked up libraries that
> never got beyond the proof of concept level.

Very true, but what about those of us who are very busy, or very
incompetent and feel guilty :)... Seriously I don't think we should
worry too much about _how much_ money will come in. It's the type of
thing that can have a snowball effect if things go well. At the moment
I'm stone broke because I'm working to start a company, however I
would sign up straight away for say 15$ a month, and if the company
goes well certainly more. Ruby has saved my life in numerous
situatuions already in the last month.
Also, I'm considering using ruby for some important apps. I may be
turning corporate already but it reassures me to think there's funding
going on (as little as it may be) to give the ruby projects momentum
(along with the momentum of people helping out of course). If I feel
like this I can only imagine how it looks to large companies.
Besides why do we need to pay someone fulltime right off the bat.
Aren't there other needs such as equipement or funding conferences and
such. If my contribution simply pays someone a big "thank you, keep it
coming" for all the overtime spent working at night and on the
weekends I'll still be happy.

Daniel