For years, the .NET open-source ecosystem has struggled with sustainability. Unlike other communities such as Node.js, many .NET developers rely on NuGet packages but have limited mechanisms for directly supporting maintainers. However, there are clear opportunities for improvement — and Microsoft is uniquely positioned to make this ecosystem thrive.

Learning from npm — and Going Beyond It

NuGet has recently introduced a feature similar to npm fund, which allows users to support package authors. While npm implemented this in 2019, it has taken six years for NuGet to follow. But rather than viewing this as a late imitation, there’s an opportunity for Microsoft to go beyond what npm offers.

NuGet operates within a completely different environment. Its users are not just hobbyists — many are enterprise developers working with corporate Visual Studio subscriptions. These companies already pay significant fees — from around $50 per month for Professional licenses to hundreds for Enterprise users.

This means that the infrastructure for a funding and revenue-sharing model is already in place. Microsoft knows which organizations and accounts are using which packages, thanks to telemetry and Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) integrations.

Idea #1: Revenue Sharing for NuGet Package Authors

Microsoft could take a small portion — say, 10% of Visual Studio subscription revenue — and distribute it among verified NuGet package authors. The distribution could be proportional to package usage across Visual Studio users, similar to how Spotify pays artists or YouTube Premium shares ad-free revenue with creators.

This system could be fully automatic. Developers wouldn’t need to manage donations or subscriptions manually — they’d simply receive their share for contributing valuable code to the community.

Imagine a developer installing a package in Visual Studio and seeing a message like:

“Part of your Visual Studio subscription supports this creator.”

This would not only generate goodwill but also make open source development in .NET genuinely sustainable.

Idea #2: Built-In License Purchasing in NuGet

Another major challenge in enterprise environments is licensing. Many NuGet packages use a “free for small teams” model but require payment for larger organizations. The current process of handling such licenses — involving procurement, legal, and contracts — is cumbersome.

A practical solution would be to integrate NuGet with the Azure Marketplace. Microsoft already has a mature billing and payment infrastructure. Linking NuGet to this system would allow organizations to purchase licenses directly from within Visual Studio or through their Azure subscription.

For example:

  • A package could be free for up to five developers.

  • When a sixth developer from the same Entra organization downloads it, Visual Studio could notify the manager and suggest purchasing a license.

  • The manager could then add the expense directly to the company’s Azure bill.

This approach removes complexity, ensures compliance, and provides a clear revenue stream for package authors.

A Smart “Soft Paywall” and License Compliance

Microsoft already has a strong auditing system for license compliance. By connecting NuGet usage with Entra and Visual Studio accounts, organizations could be automatically protected from unintentional license violations.

This model would act as a soft paywall — allowing small teams to innovate freely while encouraging larger organizations to contribute financially to the ecosystem. It would also prevent the misuse of Community Edition licenses, which are only valid below certain revenue thresholds.

The Outcome: A Sustainable .NET Ecosystem

If Microsoft implemented these systems, .NET open source could become genuinely sustainable. Maintainers could earn a fair share for their work, and new developers might join the ecosystem knowing they could actually make a living contributing to it.

Such a transformation would lead to:

  • A healthier and more active community

  • Higher quality and better-maintained packages

  • Stronger trust and goodwill toward Microsoft and the .NET platform

Open source doesn’t just need passion — it needs structure, recognition, and support. With the right funding model and licensing tools, .NET could finally achieve the vibrant ecosystem it deserves.