TL;DR
A developer on X (formerly Twitter) announced he will stop releasing new code as open source, arguing that AI coding agents have broken the attention-based monetization funnel for OSS. He cites Tailwind metrics and predicts a shift toward paid, meterable API access for libraries used by agents.
What happened
On Jan. 9, 2026 a developer identified as Marc posted that he will stop releasing new work as open-source software. He said he has contributed millions of lines of OSS over the past decade and that his libraries receive more than 1 million downloads per month, but that the business benefits he previously derived from human attention to docs and community exposure are evaporating. Marc argued that coding agents now consume documentation and deliver results without humans ever visiting project pages, cutting off the downstream attention that funded many OSS business models. He pointed to Tailwind as an example, citing 75 million downloads per month alongside reported falls in revenue and docs traffic and large layoffs. Marc described two common OSS monetization approaches — open core and building an expertise moat — and argued that agents threaten those models. He predicted a future marketplace where libraries become paid, metered APIs for agents.
Why it matters
- If agents routinely bypass docs, projects that monetize via human attention could lose revenue streams.
- Developers who relied on visibility from OSS to secure consulting, speaking, or hires may see that pathway degraded.
- A shift from open-source code to paid access could change how libraries are distributed and integrated by IDEs and agents.
- Marc’s claims frame a potential industry-wide rethinking of OSS business models and incentives.
Key facts
- Author announced he will make all new code closed-source.
- He says he has contributed millions of lines of OSS and spent thousands of hours helping others.
- He claims his own libraries get 1M+ downloads per month.
- Marc argues coding agents will read docs and remove human visits to project pages and documentation.
- He cited Tailwind figures: 75 million downloads per month, revenue down 80%, docs traffic down 40%, and 75% of the engineering team reportedly laid off (as presented by the author).
- Two OSS business models named: Open Core and Expertise Moat.
- Marc predicts a future marketplace where libraries are offered as paid, metered APIs that agents must pay to access.
- Tweet metadata in the source shows about 430.4K views and 468 replies at the time the source was captured.
What to watch next
- Whether prominent OSS projects start offering paid API access or metered endpoints for agents — not confirmed in the source.
- If other maintainers follow by closing new work or changing licenses in response to agent-driven traffic declines — not confirmed in the source.
- Industry or community responses to claims about agent-driven declines in docs traffic and monetization — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Open source: Software distributed with a license that allows users to view, modify, and redistribute the source code.
- Closed-source: Software whose source code is not publicly available; access and use are controlled by the owner.
- Open core: A business model where a project offers a free open-source core and sells premium features, services, or hosted offerings.
- Coding agents: Automated AI systems or assistants that can read documentation, generate code, and perform programming tasks.
- Docs-to-premium funnel: A conversion pathway where visitors read documentation, gain trust, and are then converted to paid products or services associated with the project.
Reader FAQ
Why is the developer going closed-source?
He says AI coding agents have removed the human attention on docs that previously enabled monetization, so he will gate access instead.
Does the post confirm Tailwind is shutting down?
Not confirmed in the source.
Does the author provide usage metrics for his projects?
He states his libraries receive more than 1 million downloads per month.
Will the broader OSS ecosystem move to paid APIs?
The author predicts a shift toward paid, metered access for agents, but broader industry adoption is not confirmed in the source.
Marc @MarcJSchmidt All my new code will be closed-source from now on. I've contributed millions of lines of carefully written OSS code over the past decade, spent thousands of hours…
Sources
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