Posted by: Anonymous
[ip: 213.203.159.55]
on September 13, 2008 09:59 AM
FOSS software development depends on contributions from developers and users. As Linux continues to become easier to use and more popular, it is more important than ever for regular users to participate in online communities and help the developers of the software they use.
I know that you are in good faith, but the concept that all end users of community-developed software environment can or must give back with service in that same community has severe problems, both in its theory and in the way too many FOSS users actually practice it. I've already discussed this in the last of the Seven Things we're tired of hearing from software hackers (http://digifreedom.net/node/56).
Isn't it much easier, more important, urgent and feasible to convert as many people as possible into FOSS supporters, rather than contributors?
Don't worry if 90% of FOSS users never "give back to the FOSS community" in any of the ways you suggest, it simply couldn't be any other way in today's world. Let's worry instead, for example, about how to convince as many of them as possible to ask their representatives exclusive adoption of Free/Open file formats, computer protocols and software in their Public Administrations. That's a community service which is way more important than writing bug reports or documentation (even assuming that the users we're talking about were able to do that)
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Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 213.203.159.55] on September 13, 2008 09:59 AMI know that you are in good faith, but the concept that all end users of community-developed software environment can or must give back with service in that same community has severe problems, both in its theory and in the way too many FOSS users actually practice it. I've already discussed this in the last of the Seven Things we're tired of hearing from software hackers (http://digifreedom.net/node/56).
Isn't it much easier, more important, urgent and feasible to convert as many people as possible into FOSS supporters, rather than contributors?
Don't worry if 90% of FOSS users never "give back to the FOSS community" in any of the ways you suggest, it simply couldn't be any other way in today's world. Let's worry instead, for example, about how to convince as many of them as possible to ask their representatives exclusive adoption of Free/Open file formats, computer protocols and software in their Public Administrations. That's a community service which is way more important than writing bug reports or documentation (even assuming that the users we're talking about were able to do that)
Best Regards,
M. Fioretti
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