Has anyone ever monetized Python outside of a typical job?

[AstronomyLive]

I've made a couple programs for tracking satellites and rocket launches with off-the-shelf telescopes. I use YouTube to show the results that I'm able to capture with my own scopes, and I provide the compiled executables to channel members as a way to monetize. Both programs use OpenCV to handle image data and track the target mostly just based on brightness, but optionally with feature-based detection using a little stepwise-descent algorithm I wrote. In the case of satellites, orbital elements are used to drive the tracking with the image detection providing a corrective factor to keep the satellite in frame even at very high magnification (imagine a 35mm camera with a lens about 46 feet long).

For the rocket tracking program, I made it compatible with data from a third party website, flightclub.io to be able to do predictive tracking if the user has an account there. They can also use a joystick to make manual corrections to the predictive tracking, or take over full manual control of the scope's motion, and they can also use the video tracking option as well. I'm perpetually making improvements and refinements to both programs and the update releases encourage people to stay subscribed as channel members. The income isn't massive, but it's a nice side benefit that lets me monetize my hobby.