Ask HN: How would you launch an open-source app with a small budget?

Marketing is always more effort and expense than people think.

I takes >> $400 in spend to do the market testing to develop an effective campaign. If you don't have a following online expect to spend a year posting hard to make one.

I like (1) although it is hit and miss. (2) is counterproductive, people tend to assume anything advertised is trash (look at how nobody smashes that "windows" key on their keyboard because they all assume anything with a logo is crap!), I dunno what you mean by (3) but everyone is doing it. (4) will work but to be effective you are going to need to do 20-30x the work you think you do.