Open-source software thrives on a simple truth: great code is built by communities, but monumental shifts often start with a single developer.
When the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers (SOCBB) initiative was launched under the Linux Foundation, the mission was clear—sustainably improve the Chromium ecosystem by rewarding the external contributors who keep it running smoothly. One year later, the results speak for themselves.
Following an incredible inaugural year, we are thrilled to announce that we are reinvesting $500,000 into the SOCBB Bug Bounty Program to continue driving impactful, user-facing improvements to Chromium.
Year One by the Numbers
Our first year proved just how much energy, talent, and dedication exists within the open-source community. Together, we achieved milestones that directly impacted millions of internet users daily:
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$300,000+ distributed in awards.
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55+ individual disbursements successfully paid out to open-source contributors.
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Countless user- and developer-facing bugs squashed across core repositories.
These aren’t just statistics; they represent a stronger, faster, and more reliable web ecosystem. Every single disbursement represents a developer who looked at a broken piece of the web and said, “I can fix that.”
The Chromium Community: A League of Fixers
The Chromium project powers the world’s most popular web browsers, which means even a minor bug can cause ripples across the globe. Traditional bug bounties heavily favor finding security vulnerabilities, but the SOCBB program is uniquely designed for the fixers—the engineers who want to roll up their sleeves, write code, and repair real, functional bugs that impact everyday users and web developers.
This program underscores the massive difference a single developer can make. By providing the financial backing and infrastructure of the Linux Foundation, we ensure that independent developers are fairly compensated for their engineering talent.
“The SOCBB program bridges the gap between finding a flaw and implementing a stable, long-term solution. It empowers individual developers to treat open-source contribution not just as a hobby, but as a rewarded professional pursuit.”
Ready to Get Paid for Your Fixes? Here’s How to Participate
We have updated our roadmap and funded the pool with an additional $500,000. If you are a developer looking to make an impact (and get compensated for it), the process is straightforward:
1. Pick a Bug
Head over to our approved lists. To ensure high-impact results, the SOCBB Steering Committee proactively curates hotlists of open, unowned Chromium bugs that are directly visible to web developers or users.
2. Submit Your Fix
Work within the main line Chromium repositories (including chromium, v8, skia, devtools-frontend, and webrtc). Your fix must successfully land in the stable channel of a major Chromium-based browser and remain stable for at least two weeks without regressions.
3. Earn Up to $20,000
Payouts are scaled based on the complexity and impact of the bug:
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Small Fixes: $1,000
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Medium Fixes: $5,000
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Large Fixes: Up to $20,000 per fix
Join Us Today
The web doesn’t build itself, and it certainly doesn’t fix itself. It takes a community.
If you have the skills to make Chromium better, we have the resources to back you up. Visit socbb.org today to browse open issues, read the full program rules, and learn how you can earn your first award. Let’s build a better browser ecosystem, one commit at a time.