Xscode international Ltd., which does business as xs:code, said today it’s teaming up with Redis Labs Inc., developer of the popular Redis in-memory data structure store, to provide financial incentives for software developers.

Xs:code’s platform provides open-source software developers with a way to make money from their code by offering premium features and support. The idea is to encourage developers to keep their software up to date and secure against vulnerabilities. It’s important, xs:code says, because many developers lack the motivation to do so if they’re not being paid for it.

Developers can use xs:code to offer subscription-based access to their code via a private repository on GitHub, which is the most popular site for hosting open source software. The idea is that they can maintain a free version of their code in public, while selling access to a more featured, up to date version. Developers can set up various licensing options for users and also choose how the paid version of their code differs from the free version.

For example, developers can put a “copyleft” licensed version of their code on GitHub that can be used for free by other open-source projects. Companies looking to use that code in a commercial product can buy a subscription xs:code’s platform. Developers can also offer a “freemium” or “open core” model in which the paid version has more features than the free public code.

Today’s partnership provides further incentives for developers who create Redis-related open-source components. Under the deal, Redis Labs will reward developers who offer paid products and services such as technical support, pro features and commercial licenses, with a dollar-for-dollar grant for the first $500 they earn on the xs:code platform.

“It’s in the best interest of anyone using Redis that open-source projects from clients to modules keep evolving, and the best way to ensure that happens is by helping developers get paid for their innovations and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Redis Labs Chief Technology Officer Guy Korland.

Image: xs:code