The VideoLAN Forums

i've always wondered this... you can find programs out there for just about anything.
some are free, trial, shareware.
some are garbage, good, great.
then you get programs like VLC that can just about do anything in audio/video and it's completely free----with open source...
how does project like this(VLC) and others do it? without asking for compensation (except donations)...
just a thought

Developers are passionate, that is why
And some of them think that this world isn't just about money...
And some of them are retribute in terms of experience about this project.