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Domain: telepath.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to telepath.com.

Comments · 6

  1. Crapshoot by T.E.D. · · Score: 2, Interesting · on Recruitment Options For a Small-Scale FOSS Project?
    I've run several small Free Software projects. The only one that ever got co-contributors (or even contributors) was one intended to be used by experienced programmers for a very specific purpose (OpenToken, an object-oriented compiler generator for Ada). By comparison, my SETI@Home Service project had hundreds if not thousands of users, volunteer mirrors all over the world, and as far as I know only one person other than me ever even bothered to look through the source code. I did, however, get a few bug reports and a constant barrage of support requests.

    None of my other projects ever garnered much interest of any kind that I could see.

    What I'm getting at here are a couple of points.
    • A lot depends on the type of project. A project targeted at a community of software developers is liable to generate more more interest from developers (duh!). A project targeted at more of a user community is going to get a whole lot more users, who will have typical user issues (support, bug reports, easier installers, etc).
    • Getting a motivated co-contributor is really rare. Its not something you can force to happen, or guilt your users into doing. You just have to be grateful when it does. Above all else, be careful to not be a PITA to someone if they start poking around your sources. If they do, you are lucky.
  2. Crapshoot by T.E.D. · · Score: 2, Interesting · on Recruitment Options For a Small-Scale FOSS Project?
    I've run several small Free Software projects. The only one that ever got co-contributors (or even contributors) was one intended to be used by experienced programmers for a very specific purpose (OpenToken, an object-oriented compiler generator for Ada). By comparison, my SETI@Home Service project had hundreds if not thousands of users, volunteer mirrors all over the world, and as far as I know only one person other than me ever even bothered to look through the source code. I did, however, get a few bug reports and a constant barrage of support requests.

    None of my other projects ever garnered much interest of any kind that I could see.

    What I'm getting at here are a couple of points.
    • A lot depends on the type of project. A project targeted at a community of software developers is liable to generate more more interest from developers (duh!). A project targeted at more of a user community is going to get a whole lot more users, who will have typical user issues (support, bug reports, easier installers, etc).
    • Getting a motivated co-contributor is really rare. Its not something you can force to happen, or guilt your users into doing. You just have to be grateful when it does. Above all else, be careful to not be a PITA to someone if they start poking around your sources. If they do, you are lucky.
  3. Re:Some public domain charts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative · on What Is Public Domain?

    Here are some other charts, which might be easier to interpret since their axes are labeled and the models are explained:

    "constant authorship per year" model

    "constant authorship per capita per year" model

  4. Re:Some public domain charts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative · on What Is Public Domain?

    Here are some other charts, which might be easier to interpret since their axes are labeled and the models are explained:

    "constant authorship per year" model

    "constant authorship per capita per year" model

  5. Try this graph--maybe you'll like it better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Lessig on the Future of the Public Domain

    http://www.telepath.com/hrothgar/pd_size_model_2.h tml

  6. Rack Mounts by Christopher+B.+Brown · · Score: 2 · on The Quest For Cool Cases Continues
    What's with this "pansy stuff" of art deco cases that look like something out of the Fifth Element?

    Don't misread that; I liked the Fifth Element; while the story may have been somewhat lame, the music and visuals more than made up for that.

    But I don't want a computer made up in the colour of the Diva.

    No, what the self respecting Linux nerd actually needs is a serious Rack Mount System.

    Those that want cheaper options might want to Build A Rack Mount Case, and check out Rack Mount Hardware at eBay. Here may be the true ultimate case.