Advice for starting a new project?

[Madison Kelly]

Kareem Shehata wrote:
> Hey everyone,
> 
>  
> 
> I've had an idea in my head (and on paper, er. notepad) for about a year now
> for what could turn into an open source project.  Truth be told, I know the
> shape of what I want to make, but I have no idea how to actually do it:
> FOSS, start a small company and build it proprietary, design the
> architecture and then license it, or look at academic forums.  I'm leaning
> towards FOSS because I think it'll fit the project as well as my personal
> beliefs and values, but I have no idea what it takes to go down that road.
> So I thought I'd check here and see if anyone has tried this road and can
> give any advice, or know of someone I should talk with.  I'm thinking of
> heading to Waterloo to chat with Roger Dingledine, since the project has
> similarities to his.  Anyone in the Toronto area who has started or is
> running a FOSS project?
> 
>  
> 
> BTW: I'd love nothing better than to put out all of the details on the idea,
> but at this point the idea of "intellectual property" scares the crap out of
> me.  What if some unscrupulous company takes the idea, makes a prototype,
> and patents it?  So, for the moment I won't talk details (and in return I'm
> not asking for any kind of commitments from anyone), but any and all advice
> would be appreciated.
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks!
> 
>  
> 
> -kms

Get and read this book:

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/producingoss/index.html

It's *exactly* what you want to know/need/read if you want to start an 
OSS project. It's amazing.

Madi
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