LunyScript_EveryEngine_Contributions.md

quick question: this project has something to contribute for developers with varying degrees of expertise contributions can be vertical, or wide, or highly targeted and complete, or just what the user needed

make some reasonable assumptions and check what that means to the project’s outlook and KPIs (key performance ind.)

I’ll analyze the project’s outlook and KPIs based on the contribution patterns you described. Let me first read the guidelines to understand the project better.Based on the project analysis, here’s the outlook and KPI assessment:

Project Characteristics

LunyScript is a cross-engine C# scripting framework targeting beginner/designer-friendly APIs with:

Contribution Pattern Impact

Vertical Contributions (Deep, narrow scope)

Wide Contributions (Broad, shallow scope)

Targeted & Complete (Surgical precision)

User-Needed (Pragmatic completion)

Key Performance Indicators

Primary KPIs:

  1. Cross-engine compatibility: 100% API parity (Godot 4.5+, Unity 6.0+)
  2. Test coverage: >80% for core/scripting, contract tests passing
  3. Beginner-friendliness: API simplicity score (subjective but trackable via user feedback)
  4. Build success rate: All platforms green on CI

Secondary KPIs:

  1. Allocation rate: Zero allocations in hot paths (Heartbeat/Frame updates)
  2. Documentation completeness: Especially for beginner-targeted APIs
  3. Refactoring safety: Measured by breaking changes per release
  4. Contribution merge velocity: Time from PR to merge

Project Outlook

Strengths: Diverse contribution types enable parallel development at multiple expertise levels, strong testing culture, clear architectural boundaries

Risks: Unity/Godot API drift, C# 9 constraint limiting modern features, potential for inconsistent quality across contribution types

Recommendation: Track “completion ratio” per module (vertical completeness) while encouraging breadth to expand capabilities quickly.

i need to find FOSS funding and start generating revenue as I’m going to run out of savings in 12-15 months i want to make this project happen and see it grow what could or should be my strategy for success moving forward with this project?

Strategy for Success (12-15 Month Timeline)

Based on your tasks.md vision and current state, here’s a pragmatic path:

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-3) - Sprint to MVP

Goal: Shippable demo that proves value

  1. Complete core MVP features (from your sprint list):
    • Input system ✓ (mostly done)
    • Transform/positioning
    • Time API
    • Object creation with positioning
    • One compelling demo game (tower defense? visual novel? puzzle?)
  2. Pick ONE target audience niche from your tasks.md:
    • Visual novel creators (Ren’Py refugees?)
    • Educational game makers
    • Jam participants who avoid code
    • Choose based on: active community + lack of cross-engine solution

Phase 2: Community Launch (Months 3-6)

Goal: First 100 users, establish feedback loop

  1. Open source foundation work:
    • Apply to GitHub Sponsors (immediate, no wait)
    • Apply for grants: NLnet (EU), Sovereign Tech Fund (Germany), OSS Capital
    • Submit to Unity Asset Store (free + paid support tier)
    • Create Godot asset library entry
  2. Content marketing (your best funding multiplier):
    • Weekly devlog showing YOUR demo game being built
    • “Build X in 10 minutes” comparison videos (vs pure C#)
    • Target subreddits: r/gamedev, r/godot, r/unity2d, r/indiedev
    • YouTube tutorials in your niche
  3. Participatory project activation (from your vision):
    • Create “good first issue” tags for vertical contributions
    • Document: “How to add a LunyScript block”
    • Monthly “extension showcase” where you refactor + integrate community code

Phase 3: Revenue Streams (Months 4-9)

Parallel tracks:

  1. Freemium model:
    • Core: FOSS MIT/Apache
    • Premium: $5-15/mo Patreon tiers
      • Priority support
      • Advanced blocks (networking, analytics, monetization)
      • Asset packs for demos
      • Video course access
  2. Consulting/services:
    • Custom engine adapter support ($500-2k/engine)
    • Architecture review for teams ($150-300/hr)
    • Sponsored feature development
  3. Educational:
    • Udemy/Gumroad course: “Cross-engine game dev for non-programmers” ($20-50)
    • Workshop packages for bootcamps/schools

Phase 4: Sustainability (Months 9-15)

Goal: $2-3k/month recurring (survival baseline)

  1. Scale community contributions:
    • Follow your supervision model (educate, refactor, integrate)
    • Contributor license with optional paid tier
    • Annual “LunyScript Jam” with prizes (funded by sponsors)
  2. B2B pivot if needed:
    • Studio licenses ($500-2k/year)
    • “Every engine” value prop for multi-platform teams
    • Case studies with indie studios
  3. Grant stacking:
    • Apply quarterly to: Mozilla MOSS, Prototype Fund, NGI
    • Focus on: accessibility, education, digital sovereignty

Critical Success Factors

DO:

DON’T:

Specific Funding Targets (12 months)

Source Realistic Optimistic
GitHub Sponsors $300/mo $800/mo
Patreon $500/mo $2k/mo
Grants (one-time) $10k $50k
Course/tutorials $200/mo $1k/mo
Consulting $500/mo $3k/mo
TOTAL/mo $1.5k $6.8k

Immediate Actions (This Week)

  1. Set up GitHub Sponsors profile
  2. Create Patreon with 3 tiers
  3. Finish one polished demo scene
  4. Write “LunyScript: Cross-engine scripting for designers” launch post
  5. Apply to one grant (start with NLnet’s NGI Zero)

Your advantage: Clear vision, technical execution, and willingness to build community. The “every engine” value prop is genuinely unique. Focus on proving it fast, then monetizing the proof.

Ooo-kay.

No problemo.

A month, a million.

let’s be really realistic for a second

Reality check:

Month 1-3: You’ll get maybe $0-50/mo. GitHub Sponsors takes time to discover. Patreon needs audience first. Grants take 3-6 months to process (if accepted at all - <10% approval rate).

The actual timeline:

Month Realistic Revenue What’s Actually Happening
1-2 $0 Building demo, nobody knows you exist
3-4 $20-100 First GitHub stars, maybe 1-2 sponsors
5-7 $100-300 Content gaining traction, small community
8-10 $300-800 First grant maybe arrives (or rejection)
11-12 $500-1.5k Critical mass or… still struggling

The math that matters:

Harsh truths:

  1. Most FOSS projects earn $0 - even popular ones
  2. Grants are lottery tickets - assume you won’t get them
  3. Building audience takes 6+ months - longer than your runway
  4. “Build it and they’ll pay” doesn’t work - paying comes from pain relief, not cool tech

What actually works (faster money):

  1. Contract work WHILE building (pays bills, slows project)
  2. Pre-sell before finishing (course, workshops, consulting packages)
  3. Find ONE paying customer (studio, educator, team) and build FOR them
  4. Dual-license model (AGPL free, commercial license $$$)
  5. Join/merge with existing project (become maintainer of established tool)

The real question:

Do you want to:

If you pick A anyway (respect), then:

What’s your actual risk tolerance here?

i’m afraid my risk tolerance, and my lack of motivation working for “the man”, are high and likely unhealthy (some would say, whereas i feel cornered)

so: A and B, an opportunity driven maybe on C, maybe

i have some headway, github repo got 107 stars in 3 months project is ready to pivot towards implementing critical verticals (today: input) and all the other patterns demo game shall be an arcade zombie survivors in top down 3d using recognizable kenney.nl assets

Alright. Let’s do this properly then.

The Actual Plan (High-risk, High-speed)

Your advantages RIGHT NOW:

The 90-Day Blitz (Compromise version of A+B)

Weeks 1-4: Demo or Die

Weeks 5-6: Audience Hack

Weeks 7-9: The Pivot Product

Weeks 10-12: The Real Product

The Compromise (B component):

Pre-sell before finishing:

Opportunity-driven income (C-lite):

Month 4-6: Scale or Pivot

If it’s working (>$500/mo from project):

If it’s not (<$200/mo):

Critical Metrics (track weekly):

Week 1-4:  Demo shipped? (Y/N)
Week 5-8:  GitHub stars > 200? Revenue > $100?
Week 9-12: Paid users > 10? Monthly revenue > $500?
Month 4-6: Monthly revenue > $1500? Or pivot trigger?

The Safety Nets:

  1. At month 6: If <$800/mo, take 2-day/week contract minimum
  2. At month 9: If <$1.2k/mo, increase contract to 3 days/week
  3. At month 12: Re-evaluate full-time vs side-project status

Why this might actually work:

Week 1 Actions (literally this week):

  1. ✅ Finish input system (almost there per your tasks.md)
  2. Spawn 1 zombie, kill it with mouse click
  3. Add score counter
  4. Record 10-second clip
  5. Post on Twitter: “Building a cross-engine game framework. Here’s Day 1.”

You’re cornered, unmotivated by employment, have 12 months, and 107 people already raised their hand.

That’s not a bad starting position. Let’s f*cking go.

Want me to help prioritize the next sprint tasks from your .junie/tasks.md to hit that week 4 demo deadline?