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Rob Mensching

@robmensching.com
190 followers 32 following 348 posts

@firegiant.com CEO & Co-Founder | Benevolent Dictator of WiX Toolset | RobMensching.com for more information

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Reposted by Rob Mensching
Carl Franklin @carlfranklin.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Introducing the Open Source Maintenance Fee for Polly thepollyproject.org/2026/07/14/p...
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 13/07/2026
Eduforcement robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
Eduforcement | RobMensching.com
When I introduced the OSMF, many people told me it would not work unless some sort of license enforcement mechanism was in place. I disagreed and instead focused on education. It turns out we were both...
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
Joe Finney @thejoefin.com · 09/07/2026
This is such a great episode! All #opensource devs should listen to this! #dotnet
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
Richard Campbell @richcampbell.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Open source users often want a simple way to give back. RobMensching.com explains how the Open Source Maintenance Fee creates a sustainable funding model for projects like WiX Toolset—while keeping the source available on GitHub. Listen: www.dotnetrocks.com/details/2010 #OpenSource #Sustainability
dotnetrocks.com
.NET Rocks!
.NET Rocks! is a weekly talk show for anyone interested in programming on the Microsoft .NET platform. The shows range from introductory information to hardcore geekiness.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 02/07/2026
@martin.social it seems like Issue Fields and Project Fields are not the same thing. Is that right? If so, can they be made the same? I'd like to see the same field value (like Start Date) on both the Issue and the Project.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 24/06/2026
WiX Toolset surpasses 300 sponsors robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
WiX Toolset surpasses 300 sponsors | RobMensching.com
Eight months ago WiX had 99 sponsors. Today it has 304. The Open Source Maintenance Fee is working and ready.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 05/06/2026
I have mixed feelings about Cloudflare acquiring VoidZero. I like Cloudflare but I hoped to see Vite be "enough" to fund its own development. I felt the same with Astro. robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
I have mixed feelings about Cloudflare acquiring V... | RobMensching.com
I have mixed feelings about Cloudflare acquiring VoidZero. I like Cloudflare but I hoped to see Vite be "enough" to fund its own development. I felt the same with Astro.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 27/05/2026
This is an interesting angle I hadn't considered. Company A gets sued because they do not comply with the license terms of a nupkg and since requireLicenseAcceptance was set Company A sues Microsoft for not surfacing the license terms as per the documentation.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 24/04/2026
When I introduced the OSMF, people told me that enforcement would be my biggest problem. It wasn't and isn't. Procurement remains the biggest pain point. The challenge is that there is little I can do to fix the root issue. Instead, the OSMF serves as a simple forcing function.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 19/03/2026
Absolutely love this. Sean has understood the situation for a long time. Very cool to see his org was on board as well. It _is_ supposed to be this easy.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 21/02/2026
Forty Nine robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
Forty Nine | RobMensching.com
Today I turn 49. A lot has improved in the last year. So, as is tradition, let's take this time on my birthday to review it.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 05/02/2026
Open Source Maintenance Fee v1.1 robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
Open Source Maintenance Fee v1.1 | RobMensching.com
Since it's release almost a year ago now, I've been collecting feedback on the Open Source Maintenance Fee. Earlier this week, I integrated a piece of feedback that deserved to bump the version number....
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 24/01/2026
@gregsdennis.bsky.social I have a few small changes planned for the OSMF EULA to address feedback from the last year. I see you're planning to adopt the OSMF, Feb 2. If you wanted to sync up, I'd be happy to show you the changes planned for OSMF v1.1.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 12/01/2026
Tailwind CSS has 30M weekly downloads and still had to lay off most of its dev team. Popularity != sustainability in Open Source. I wrote about what this says about OSS funding, sponsorships, and why maintenance needs to be treated like a real business cost. robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
How can Tailwind CSS be so popular yet still struggle with sustainability? | RobMensching.com
We don't use Tailwind CSS at FireGiant, but I can't stop thinking about it. As a CEO responsible for keeping the lights on, and as a long-time Open Source maintainer, the situation is uncomfortably…
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 10/01/2026
How can Tailwind CSS be so popular yet still struggle with sustainability? robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
How can Tailwind CSS be so popular yet still struggle with sustainability? | RobMensching.com
We don't use Tailwind CSS at FireGiant, but I can't stop thinking about it. As a CEO responsible for keeping the lights on, and as a long-time Open Source maintainer, the situation is uncomfortably familiar....
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 31/12/2025
This is the best episode of Deployment Dojo's MSBuild In Depth series yet. It's a capstone of the last 7 episodes. It's also a great example how the Deployment Dojo learning process works. Join me watching it right now! www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyIU...
youtube.com
MSBuild In Depth: Putting It Together | Deployment Dojo S2E8
_Want your own dojo time?_ Train 1:1 with Rob: https://www.firegiant.com/services/consultation/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=dojo&utm_content=s2e7 0:00 Welcome 1:04 Topic…
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
FireGiant @firegiant.com · 17/12/2025
WiX Online Meeting 302 Live Now We'll be reviewing WiX v7's final list of issues. There's only a bit over a month until WiX v7-rc.1. See you there!
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 03/12/2025
Starting now - Deployment Dojo S2:E8 | MSBuild in Depth www.youtube.com/@firegiantco...
youtube.com
FireGiant
FireGiant arms you with accurate support from the creators of WiX – so you can install with confidence.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 26/11/2025
Watch episode 7 of Deployment Dojo with me today at 10:30 AM PST. Let's chat about the serendipitous mistakes I encountered while exploring MSBuild inputs and outputs. youtu.be/R_OoswIrT9E
youtu.be
MSBuild In Depth: Inputs & Outputs | Deployment Dojo S2E7
_Want your own dojo time?_ Train 1:1 with Rob: https://www.firegiant.com/services/consultation/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=dojo&utm_content=s2e7
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 12/11/2025
media.tenor.com
a man in a helmet with the words this is the way behind him
ALT: a man in a helmet with the words this is the way behind him
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
Immo Landwerth @terrajobst.net · 01/11/2025
That’s ingenious
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 29/10/2025
Deployment Dojo Season 2 - Episode 6 replay premeir starts in less than a minute: youtu.be/4W4PmJQzTSY?...
youtu.be
MSBuild In Depth: Batching | Deployment Dojo S2E6
_Want your own dojo time?_ Train 1:1 with Rob: https://www.firegiant.com/services/consultation/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=dojo&utm_content=s2e6
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
FireGiant @firegiant.com · 22/10/2025
Premier of Deployment Dojo | Season 2 Episode 5 - Metadata Did you know I watch these when they go up live? You can chat with me about the episode while it's first showing. Well, you can. Join me now and we'll watch it together. youtu.be/Gw9tTrahStU
youtu.be
MSBuild In Depth: Metadata | Deployment Dojo S2E5
_Want your own dojo time?_ Train 1:1 with Rob: https://www.firegiant.com/services/consultation/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=dojo&utm_content=s2e5 00:00 Welcome 01:30 Kata…
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 18/10/2025
Of the last seven days, I've spent the better part of five of them fixing broken build pipelines due to various external changes. It's an enormous amount of time spent to go nowhere. Am I alone in this? If not, what do you do to battle bit rot?
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 13/10/2025
Here's a crazy thing I just noticed. Vite currently has 52 sponsors on GitHub. WiX has 99. Not an apples-apples comparison, but I never imagined my (insignificant) setup dev tool could be in the ballpark of a (wildly successful) JS dev tool. Yes, it's because of the OSMF.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 01/10/2025
Deployment Dojo S2E6 Live now! www.youtube.com/@firegiantco
youtube.com
FireGiant
FireGiant arms you with accurate support from the creators of WiX – so you can install with confidence.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 07/09/2025
I'm doing a bit of ad hoc testing this morning on a product we've been developing for a long-time customer. I don't get to simply use our products very often. This thing is so cool.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 03/09/2025
Kids are back to school, and the Deployment Dojo is back on schedule. Today at 10:30 AM PDT S2:E5 - All about Item Metadata. www.youtube.com/@firegiantco...
youtube.com
FireGiant
FireGiant arms you with accurate support from the creators of WiX – so you can install with confidence.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 28/08/2025
Surprise! Deployment Dojo S2:E4 live show starts in just a few minutes to make up the show missed earlier this month. Can you make it at the last minute? www.youtube.com/@firegiantco
youtube.com
FireGiant
FireGiant arms you with accurate support from the creators of WiX – so you can install with confidence.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 26/08/2025
@jeremiah.sounderatheart.com I saw mention of SKC as a potential trap game. Is it possible that "playing the kids" is an antidote to that? Get a hungry team on the field that is less likely to slip into complacency? :)
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 30/07/2025
Every replay of the Deployment Dojo live show premiers on YouTube and you can watch with me. This last month's replay has just completed. Maybe I'll see you next month on August 6th for the live show or the replay's premier on August 27th.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 02/07/2025
Deployment Dojo S2E3 is Live! tomorrow morning at 10:30 AM. Here's a 30 second refresher from episode 2.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 27/06/2025
Does anyone know of any _total beginner_ programming content? I'm mostly finding garbage or content that isn't beginner enough. I don't really have the time to start another YouTube channel myself.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 25/06/2025
We're only two episodes in, and I feel like we're already back in the groove with season 2 of the Deployment Dojo! Learn tons about MSBuild targets in this episode. Oh, and the FireGiant Cinematic Universe expanded, too.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 14/06/2025
@james-jackson-south.me how has Paddle been as a MoR? Good, bad, indifferent?
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
FireGiant @firegiant.com · 03/06/2025
Deployment Dojo Season 2 Episode 2 is tomorrow at 10:30 AM PDT on the FireGiant YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@firegiantco If you missed Episode 1, here is a 20s summary. Watch the full reply on our channel.
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
FireGiant @firegiant.com · 28/05/2025
Deployment Dojo S2E1: MSBuild Basics the Property, Item, Target www.firegiant.com/blog/2025/5/...
firegiant.com
Deployment Dojo S2E1: MSBuild Basics the Property, Item, Target | FireGiant
Whoo! I'm so happy to be back in the Deployment Dojo. Season 2 is here and we will be exploring MSBuild. That may be a bit of a surprise but setup development often requires working closely with the build...
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 12/05/2025
Open Source Maintenance Fee Two Months In robmensching.com/blog/posts/2...
robmensching.com
Open Source Maintenance Fee Two Months In | RobMensching.com
It's been a bit over a month since the Open Source Maintenance Fee was introduced into the WiX Toolset. So, let's take a moment to check in and see how things are going.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 01/05/2025
I had a great conversation with Carl and Richard about the Open Source Maintenance Fee: opensourcemaintenancefee.org. I really appreciate how supportive and genuinely interested they are in getting more Open Source sustainability ideas out into the world. I'll write up more when I get some time.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 30/04/2025
Reminder: The Deployment Dojo Season 2 starts next Wednesday, 2025/05/07 at 10:30 AM PDT on the FireGiant YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@firegiantco
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 09/04/2025
Deployment Dojo Season 2 Moves to FireGiant
robmensching.com
Deployment Dojo Season 2 Moves to FireGiant | RobMensching.com
A few of you have asked so I'm very excited to share that the Deployment Dojo is coming back for Season 2. In fact, the show was so successful, it was picked up by FireGiant and is moving to the FireGiant...
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 09/04/2025
We are so back. 🏯 Season 2, baby.
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Reposted by Rob Mensching
FireGiant @firegiant.com · 08/04/2025
WiX v6.0.0 is now available. Update your .wixproj files, load up the WiX CLI package on your favorite build machine, and update the .NET tool installation if you have one. And if you make money using WiX, take note of the new Open Source Maintenance Fee. www.firegiant.com/blog/2025/4/...
firegiant.com
WiX v6.0.0 available | FireGiant
WiX v6.0.0 is now available. Update your .wixproj files, load up the WiX CLI package on your favorite build machine, and update the .NET tool installation if you have one. And if you make money using ...
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 07/04/2025
The .NET Foundation failed to renew the WiX Toolset's certificate. This broke our first attempt at the official release of WiX v6.0.0. We are now switching to FireGiant's certificate infrastructure to no longer depend on the .NET Foundation for this and future builds of WiX.
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 04/04/2025
Finally. This is what I was asking a week or so ago about RSS. Why didn't Mastodon and Bluesky just do something like this?
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 03/04/2025
This is actually one of the arguments I make for maintainers worried about adding a maintenance fee to their project. The consumers you chase off because they don't want to pay the fee, were just there because they valued your work at $0. You don't need them. You don't want them. Unless...
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 28/03/2025
Seriously, what is missing from RSS that we need all these other protocols to replace it?
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 27/03/2025
So, Microsoft announced a Windows roadmap. I looked at it and saw nothing of interest. Am I missing something cool?
microsoft.com
Windows Roadmap | Microsoft Windows for Business
Global
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 18/03/2025
Maintainers: The Open Source Maintenance Fee EULA is signed off and ready for use in your project. Everything you need to enable the OSMF in your project is now available. opensourcemaintenancefee.org/maintainers/...
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Rob Mensching @robmensching.com · 17/03/2025
Reviewing and editing legal license documents feels like programming in English without unit tests or even a compiler readily available. But I think we're getting very, very close now.
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