Nonograph creator argues hobby software should stay free and resist subscriptions, forced AI, and VC-driven monetization

The author says Nonograph, an open source writing tool, cost about $600 to launch and only around $5 per month to host despite heavy readership. They argue that adding subscriptions or monetization would raise costs, repel users, and turn a passion project into quota-driven work.

The post reflects a growing backlash against enshittification as users and builders tire of subscriptions, ads, and unnecessary AI features. It also highlights a countertrend: small-scale, low-cost open source projects can remain sustainable when creators treat software as craft rather than a venture-backed business.

Write some software, give it away for free