Garrity Software (GS) is a sustainable organization devoted to producing high quality, robust software. GS is also committed to contributing open source work and releasing as much software for free as possible. GS is currently Bootstrapping, does not have income, and is primarily producing open source libraries.
Mission
Garrity Software aims to produce high quality software to solve a variety of problems. At the same time, it aims to remain small in size and provide a stable living for a small number of people, enabling them to work less, spend time with their families, and pursue their own interests. Finally, GS aims to provide open source software and to financially support open source development.
Donations
If you want to support the GS mission or open source work, please consider donating to the founder.
Roadmap and Progress
The GS vision is non-trivial to achieve. Quality open source projects are a starting point, but supporting employees and open source projects requires products and income. GS has a coarse-grained roadmap towards the mission.
Current Status: Bootstrapping
Current Estimate: Behind!
Development continues, but limited time means limited progress. Likely will need to adjust schedule to spend more time on baseline development.
- Bootstrapping (2024)
- Establish open source libraries and build the first product. Establish Garrity Software as an LLC.
- Initial Sales (By June 2025)
- Start attempting to sell software.
- Independence (By 2030)
- Founder achieves ability to stop working for other companies. Requires income from all sources to be sufficient to support family.
- First External Hire
- Another person is hired. That person is fully compensated.
- Hire to Five
- Bring in additional people until the arbitrary threshold of five employees is met.
- Sustain
- Hit a balance point that supports year-to-year stability in line with the GS mission.
Sustainable Organization
Sustainability
Garrity Software is based on the premise of sustainability. This is measured in terms of employee needs and company performance. The goal is a balance where GS earns enough to support a small number of employees that do not need to work a full week. To achieve this goal, GS needs to earn enough money and have stable enough products. At the same time, GS needs to resist unbounded growth and becoming too large. The steady state should have employees that can both maintain current products and pursue new work without needing to put in extra time.
Execution
- Establish strong core products that produce reliable income.
- Never allow the organization to become beholden to external investors.
- Do not spend money that GS does not have.
- Limit staff to five total employees.
- Establish four day work weeks starting with the first hire.
- Ensure that hiring only starts when enough income exists to support a comfortable living wage (including things like health care) for any hired person.
- Establish a fund to donate to, or otherwise support, open source development.
Team
Pat Garrity (pfm)
Founder and visionary of Garrity Software.