From Code to Cash: How André Arko Builds Better Tools and Gets Paid for Open Source

Screaming in the Cloud

André Arko, CEO of Spinel Cooperative and longtime Bundler maintainer, joins Corey Quinn to introduce RV, a new Ruby tool that installs Ruby in one second instead of 10-40 minutes by using precompiled binaries. Inspired by Python's UV, RV aims to simplify Ruby dependency management without the complexity of older tools like RVM and rbenv. They talk about why Ruby isn't actually dead, Apple's problem with shipping a five-year-old end-of-life Ruby in macOS, and the challenges of writing dependency managers in the language they manage. André also shares how he transitioned from a struggling nonprofit model to a cooperative that charges companies for expertise, proving that open source maintainers can build sustainable businesses without relying on donations.

Show Highlights:

(03:50) Introducing RV

(05:12) The RVM vs rbenv Wars and Why They All Break Bundler

(09:00) Why Your Mac Still Shows Ruby 3.0.0 in Your Prompt

(11:00) The Chef vs Puppet Philosophy Divide

(16:30) Installing Ruby in One Second vs 40 Minutes

(18:13) Apple’s Ancient System Ruby Problem

(22:20) RV’s Incremental Approach

(24:23) Is Ruby Dead?

(28:44) Why RV Is Written in Rust, Not Ruby

(31:10) The Bundler Problem

(32:15) The Financial Reality

(38:00) Spinel’s Plans to Make Money

(39:23) How to Stay In Contact with André

Links:

André Arko: https://arko.net
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/indirect.io
Spinel Cooperative: https://spinel.coop

Sponsor:
Duckbill: https://www.duckbillhq.com/