Developerfests vs Installfests

[Scott Elcomb]

On 6/29/06, Christopher Browne <cbbrowne-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> On 6/29/06, Scott Elcomb <psema4-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
[...]
> > Coding is overrated IMO.  It's cool, but overrated.
> >
> > There are so many other aspects to developing products that
> > "non-programmers" are needed for.  Media, PR, organization, project
> > management - these are all things sucessful projects require, and most
> > need help with.
>
> Show me a project that has a good set of non-programmers but no
> programmers that has produced useful software, and I'll gladly agree.

Not looking for anyone to agree.  Code is just as necessary as the
rest, and in a sense, perhaps a little more-so.  End-user expectations
require the other components as well is all I meant.  ;-)

> But you can only influence free software projects in limited ways if
> you aren't writing code.  And I see no reason for apology for that;
> far too often, the fact that business-based development operates the
> opposite way leads to the many sorts of idiocy recounted in Dilbert
> cartoons.

Dilbert r0x.  Heheh.

Seriously though, I believe the perspective "only influence free
software projects in limited way if you aren't writing code" is
intuitive, but perhaps a little inaccurate.  No need to apologize at
all.  Takes alot of perspectives to build a community.

> The idiots that couldn't write the software if their lives depended on
> it make ludicrous promises about functionality that they aren't
> responsible to live up to.

Well, in part that might be a good thing.  If a prospective client
does actually spend some time in research (aka "the open source
method" - or the scientific one for that matter...) then they will
locate consultants or other specialists worth their salt.

Good business generates good business.

> One of the reasons why many of us came to Linux is that it was created
> by programmers for programmers, rather than being designed by morons
> for morons.  I see no reason to apologize for that; it wasn't a
> mistake.

Again, no need to apologize.  's a fact.

But maybe that thought is just one step on a longer journey.  All of
the world has tasted of Pandora's Box.

-- 
Scott Elcomb
http://w3.avidus.ca/

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle,
stand like a rock."

  - Thomas Jefferson
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