In this special bonus episode, Matt and Liam dive deep into a question that’s been simmering beneath the surface: Is the .NET ecosystem heading for trouble?

From the IdentityServer “rug pull” to Jimmy Bogard’s recent move to commercialise Automapper and MediatR, we explore what it means when open-source maintainers shift to paid models, and how the community responds. Is this a betrayal, or simply what’s needed to sustain the tools we all rely on?

We discuss:

• How .NET’s open-source soul is clashing with enterprise realities


• Why frustration is growing—among maintainers and users alike


• The moral dilemma of building businesses on free tools


• Whether .NET is falling back into its “enterprise-only” trap


• What needs to change for .NET open source to survive—and thrive

We wrap by proposing a live community conversation on the future of .NET OSS. If you’re a maintainer, contributor, or just someone who cares deeply about the ecosystem, stay tuned. We want your voice in the next round!

Any Likes 👍, Shares 📣, Subscriptions 🔔, and Love ❤️ go a long way to helping us continue this podcast.

Cheers! 🍻

🍻 Tonight’s Drinks 🍻
Matt - Wild Yak Pacific Ale (Linking to Dan Murphy’s because - long story, they sold and sold again and neither parent company provides a website for the brand)
Liam - Archie Rose Single Malt Whisky