The builder's path
For: Desktop GIFs users can't post GIF comments on YouTube from a computer.
“Some things are under our control, while others are not under our control.”
Routes to a solution
Each route is a different kind of journey, with real people and organisations to contact at each step, starting with those in every country.
Step 1
Build in the open
Publish the code and invite contributors from the community.
Let the people a free tool helps fund its maintainer directly.
Raise and spend money in the open for a community project.
Grants for open source that makes the internet better.
Network of civic tech groups in many countries; find the one near the problem.
Step 2
Fund the maintainers
Sponsors, collectives and open source grants.
Let the people a free tool helps fund its maintainer directly.
Raise and spend money in the open for a community project.
Grants for open source that makes the internet better.
Network of civic tech groups in many countries; find the one near the problem.
Step 3
Get it adopted
Civic tech groups and public bodies take it up.
Y Combinator's free course and co-founder matching.
Raise and spend money in the open for a community project.
Network of civic tech groups in many countries; find the one near the problem.
Volunteer data scientists working with social-sector organisations.
Ideas, sources and tools for this problem, from first interviews to funding.
Official YouTube help page on how comments work and how they are managed.
They have the most direct knowledge of the failure and of any planned fix.
Starter prompt
Built from this problem's brief. Paste it into Claude or any AI assistant.
Help me design and build a first working prototype for this problem in Anywhere. Problem: Desktop GIFs users can't post GIF comments on YouTube from a computer. Who it hurts: People who use the Desktop GIFs extension on the desktop YouTube website to post GIF comments. The moment it hurts: They press send after picking a GIF, the extension retries about half a minute, and nothing posts. Their text and GIF stay in the comment box. What people do today: They retry, pick another GIF, reinstall, or use a VPN, but none of these help according to the source. Why it is still unsolved: The source says YouTube now rejects the GIF field itself when it comes from the desktop site. The maintainer has no fix yet. What solved looks like: A desktop YouTube user can post a GIF comment with the extension and it stays up after reloading the page. Where: Anywhere First, list what you would need to learn from the people affected before building, as interview questions. Then propose the simplest version that would help, the screens or messages it needs, and the data it would use. Keep it cheap to run, accessible, and respectful of people's privacy. Flag anything you are unsure about instead of guessing.
Talk to the people who live it before you build.
“Knowledge itself is power.”
Ipsa scientia potestas est.
Get a working version in front of people fast.
Using AI is not cheating. Every tool carries the work of the people who made it, and using it well is how knowledge has always moved forward. The thinking, the care for the people who live the problem, and the judgement are still yours.
“The Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard-loom weaves flowers and leaves.”
Open data that fits this problem.
“In the fields of observation chance favours only the prepared mind.”
Dans les champs de l'observation le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés.
Tools matched to what this problem needs.
“A journey of a thousand li starts beneath one's feet.”
Ship it responsibly, and find help and funding.
“Whatever a great person does, others follow.”
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः
yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ
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