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Acknowledging Great Free Software
banuaba writes: "I am a Windows user. I've tried a couple of distros of Linux, and a BSD or two, but they aren't what I need in an OS. Sometimes in my job and my personal 'life' I need something with a little more power than Windows can give me, and when that time comes, I use Cygwin and have been wholly satisfied and enamored with the product they put out. My question for all you Slashdotters out there is this: I would like to 'reward' the Cygwin people for giving me a great product that fits my needs, but aside from an 'attaboy' email, I don't see how I could compensate them, preferrably financially. I don't have any coding skills of significance, and am not inclined to learn, I'd just like a way to let them know that I like what they've done. In the non-free (as in beer) software world, I would buy their next release. Is there any way to financially help them along? Should I just mail them a check? Would that be insulting to OSS developers, as a general rule? How or would you slashdotters who work on GPL'd code like to be compensated for your time and effort?"
The GNU Project maintains the Cygwin documentation; they have a whole page of ways you can help their efforts to spread Free software, which includes sending money, but quite a few other things, too.
I like Alan Cox's system of CD donations, but I've not met any developers yet who would be offended by a donation in money, bug-fixes, hardware, or positive word of mouth. Does anyone have interesting suggestions for thanking Free software developers?
It's a commercial product, which needs revenue to Red Hat's cygwin pages.
Disclaimer: I work for the company producing it (Red Hat, Inc).
Try to imagine yourself as that developer. You've written some software, either because you needed it for something and it didn't exist, or you thought it would be cool to do, or you were just bored and anxious to write *anything*. You're not interested in selling it for a variety of reasons. Maybe it's because it's only a hobby for you, maybe it's because you have philosophical issues with selling software, maybe it's this, that, or another thing... whatever. At any rate, you wrote, you gave it away, and now you get lots of people writing you bug reports of varying degrees of helpfullness, people sending you patches that sometimes fix things or add features, and sometimes just waste your time, and there have been more than a few people who said they'd take care of something, like creating RPMs and debs on an ongoing basis and then failed to do it, and occassionally someone who has nothing better to say than, "This sucks, it doesn't work. You're the guy who wrote it, so you must suck, too."
What could you possibly receive from a pleased user that would make you ignore all of the bad parts and think, "I'm gonna keep this thing going"?
Send that.
I like to play children's songs in minor keys.
"We're all sons of bitches now." --J. Robert Oppenheimer
I love the smell of Karma in the morning
That would be "person 2 programmer" beer system. Aside from contributing geek toys (presumably to be used in further coding efforts), it sure would be nice to be able to send freeware developers a 6-er once in a while. Of beer, red bull, Mt. Dew, or whatever it is they drink.
;-)
Beer addresses should be included in the documentation
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem
In the non-free (as in beer) software world, I would buy their next release.
In the non-free (as in beer) software world, that's ~3 MSDN Universal subscriptions.
I call that a bargain... --The Who.
If I ever get a budget, it'll be the first license I buy. Cygwin is an outstanding toolkit. Amaze your friends! Turn your word-processor into a WORKING COMPUTER! Compile and run GNU software on Winblows!
illegitimii non ingravare
If you want to make the developer(s) feel good, send them an attaboy email. If you want to contribute and don't want to learn to code, send them an attaboy email and a cheque, or a case of interesting beer -- or maybe make a contribution to a charity they wish to support. An email saying "I really enjoy your software a lot, and I'd like to thank you for it -- are there any charities you particularly feel kindly for?" alleviates any possibilities that people would be offended by a cheque (though I don't know of any people who would, personally).
But really, unless the people you're trying to thank are really overloaded, actual user contact is very rewarding. Knowing that people use and enjoy your software is one of the main reasons I develop Free Software.
Ah, come on...you could at least display Blatz proudly on your cubicle...as a novelty of sorts. A reminder, if you will, that not all of the world has progressed beyond the 1960's (especially northern Wisconsin). ;-)
And of course, Dennis Hopper would say differently..."Heineken?!?! Fsck that sh*t! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!"
Having developed a bit of free software, I don't think any of us would be offended by money. However, if you expected to be treated specially for your contribution, then I might be offended. But if was purely a contribution without asking for special treatment, then by all means, send it along.
visit my free wallpaper collection, wp.erasei.com
Microsoft are unleashing a huge FUD campain against Open source software. Good news doesn't travel at all well in this age (unless it involves cute animals or kids), so spreading the word (without going OTT) is the best plan.
Word of mouth is a powerful medium, often under-rated - look at film reviews - a critically panned film can be a huge success just on word of mouth,
ooooooh! What does this button do? - DeeDee, Dexters Lab.
Beer, pizza, money, emails - they are all great!
I just started working on a project (I know, shamless plug) a month or so ago. Have not publicized it but in just one place, and am amazed at the number of positive emails and the number of downloads so far.
That said, the emails I like the most are the ones with either code or suggestions. So far one person has sent in a code snippet and three have sent in some really killer ideas - that is the kind of stuff I like! I mean, I am writing the program for me, but I am not the only one using it.
So send in those attaboy emails. Ask if there is something you can do to help. I personally don't care if you are a programmer or not - there are a ton of things you can do to help, mainly in the realm of minutia; that stuff can really be a drag to do but it needs to be done and in some cases those small little things are the biggest part of a project.
Are you suggesting that Cygwin is a port of some other package? Ports are made from source code - if I described WINE as a port of win32, I suspect few folk would agree with me - WINE was created from scratch.
Cygwin is a port of GNU tools to Windows -- that happened to be done by Cygnus, the same people who wrote most of those tools in the first place. The only difference from Unix version is that port to Windows was made much later, and involved more pain than versions for any other OS. Everything in Cygwin that is not in your usual GNU tools (which BTW happen to be a large piece of any Linux distribution) is done with one goal -- to make them work on Windows.
Likewise Cygwin is not a port of anything. Cygwin is a standalone .dll, custom built to provide various unix and POSIX API calls.
DLL is only a small part of the package -- see their own description.
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
Unfortunately, because I'm a lowly grad-student, I don't really have the disposable income to send folks a check (unless I have a strong craving for a week's worth of Ramen).
What I did to do my part to pay those hardworking cygwin folks back was get my organization to purchase $7500 worth of their software. We had a little extra cash left on one of our research budgets, and were and need of a compiler for the ARM microcontroller. I recommended purchasing GNUPro Tools, which includes gcc. Yeah, I know it's freely available, and that I could cross-compile, but do the accounting people need to know that? So, in short, get your organization to buy some freely-available software, and send them a six-pack for good measure.
---
octave + distributed.net + matlab*P = community-supported-interactive-supercomputing
I'm sure that most open-source/Free software developers would find the greatest compliment in knowing that people out there use and even rely on their software--but I would think that a donation for what you think the software's worth to the sponsoring organization wouldn't be out of order.
Looxury...
--- Hot Shot City is particularly good.
LOL it IS the same developer :) While he does get religious about Debian now and then He's actually a rational nice guy :)
errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
No shit, I came back expecting either a 5 or -1....but definitely was not expecting Informative!
I find it really saddening that nobody found this funny, yet numerous people found it "Informative". More than likely it shows that the herd follows a few crazy people. (*cough* kinda like religion)
Regarding the song lyric, that's a pure coincidence; I don't like Placebo anyways...
Yeah but what are the chances your kid is going to be immortal? Slim to none i'd say :)
Check Number 0001
Pay to the order of: OSS Hacker
Amount: Forty-Dollars - 40.00$
Singed: Anonymous Coward
Memo: First Ch3ck!
"`Ford, you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.'" -THHGTTG
No can do... We already named her after an old brand of supercomputers. Maybe the second-born, if there's one...
Imagine the benefits if we rewarded outstanding software with a few cases of Bawls. We'd then have content caffeinated coders ready to twitch up another product, heh.
Ice Cream has no bones.
If you do buy something and/or send money, make sure you also send a message indicating that cygwin is the thing you like. Otherwise, they might think that you are rewarding them for developing RPM or their work with GNOME.
When a project is maintained/coded by a sole person, ever thought of donating some computer *hardware* to the cause? Maybe that "old" Athlon 500 isn't useful to you, but for someone else, it might come in handy. For a sole developer, especially someone doing it in his or her part time, why don't you drop him/her an email and offer some old equipment. In a simular vein, you could offer web hosting if the project needs a website, or (more labor intensive) help them on their documentation or FAQs, after all, you can help out OSS even if you don't have coding skills.
Just my $.02
Which reminds me. Why doesn't someone with decent graphical skills and some time on his/her hands drop the coder of eagle eye nethack a line and offer to increase the number of images. Last time I played the game, I was hampered by the lack of images, with several monsters/items having the same image. Of course, my graphical skills suck, I don't even trust myself to do color shifting to make an iron/steel sword into a bronze sword, but someone must have the skills and the time.
As a Muslim and a longtime user developer of GNU/Linux, I am offended by your American cultural imperialism. My religion forbids the sonsumption of alcohol! Please attempt to honor the wishes of those who gvie their time to make software for you!
I would like any donations to me instead be made to charitable organization such as:
the PLO
kill
Muslim Aid
The Nation of Islam
Thank you.
-zr
Amen!
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
It seems to me that Free Software according to the FSF is a philosophy. To feel guilty about using free software and to think that whoever wrote it somehow deserves a reward seems to me to be contrary to the reason they wrote the sotware to begin with. Using it and contributing to it if you can is one thing, but feeling like you owe them money is another altogether.
The answer is simple: Don't send them money and don't feel bad for using their great software, as though it's worth money and you got away with some naughty act in the privacy of your home where no one but your conscience watches over you.
The best thing you can do for them is to:
1. Use their software.
2. Contribute to their software (if you can.)
3. Don't support their commercial competitors.
4. Spread the word about their software in particular. There's enough religious zealots as it is--don't add your voice to zealotry, add it instead to the promotion of good, specific packages.
The whole concept of money in exchange for software seems to me to fly in the face of what they're striving for to begin with.
Supporting an organization as a whole and acknowledging the fact that it costs money to operate or even exist is another matter entirely, while a human being who has chosen to write free software without doing something to make money for themselves doesn't really "get" what's going on around us. Giving him money means he might as well have not released his software under the GPL at all.
On the other hand, the FSF is a foundation that does more than write software--and thus depends on donations to even exist--that's its whole premise from the get-go.
Small difference but important.
Immortality? Name your first born "Cygwin."
Andrew
Obviously the best thing to do for an OSS coder is to send them a girlfriend. They have considerable trouble finding them on their own, so if you'd be kind enough to give them a hand, you'd be truly showing your appreciation.
Yeah, probably the biggest value to an open source developer is seeing their product overtake a competeting commercial product in terms of market use. So, outside of sending money, anything you can do to increase use of the product (maybe you have access to some decent web real estate to help advertise?) I'm sure would be much appreciated too. Or, writing documentation. Or, maintaining a web page. Or .. well, the list goes on, but there are a multitude of ways to help open source developers other than contributing code! (Especially since many programmers arn't exactly gifted in the arena of documentation and language.)
"Old man yells at systemd"
theyll take your money, chances are they are hungry. Mail em a check, if you think theyll be mad, make it anonymous, but I doubt they'll decline. Hell, fed ex em a case of beer, thatll thrill em ;)
________________________________________________
I know you are running windows, but you could support the Cygnus team by purchasing the GNUPro toolkit. It offers some really useful stuff (optimized gcc, insight visual debugger, etc). Maybe it will provide the incentive you need to maintain a dual boot. It would certainly reward the developers monitarily (as would purchasing the boxed RedHat). Last one I purchased was $79.00 US. Remember, RedHat and Cygnus are the same entity now, so by supporting one you support the other by proxy.
std::disclaimer<std::legalese> sig=new std::disclaimer; sig->dump(); delete sig;
What I want more than anything else from people who use my stuff is to hear from them that they are using what I have written. Free software authors write free software for many reasons, but for many authors the biggest motivation is the thought that they are added something great to the world. Drop the authors a note of thanks and praise and let them know you are actually using their stuff and what you are using it for. You'd be amazed how few people who download a piece of free software do that.
As far as giving money/pizza/beer, sure, if you are so moved, why not? But don't forget that many free software authors are already being paid to write the software they write, even if the software is not, in and of itself, intended as a commercial good.
- jon
Ganymede, a GPL'ed metadirectory for UNIX
Just buy a box or two of Red Hat Linux, even if you don't plan to use it. You'll be supporting the company that underwrites Cygwin tools.
Send them a couple of kegs of beer, and some chicks^H^H^H^H^H^H women to serve it to them, maybe some chicken wings, and some curly fries. Or just give 'em some hooters gift certificates.
I want my rights back. I was actually using them when our government stole them after 9/11.
I think one of my favourite things about the free software community is that really you shouldn't have to ask people here if this is insulting - free software developers tend to like responses, and engaging with their users, so asking *them* is the answer - or just sending a cheque if you know where to, and 99% of OSS developers you'll meet will politely set you straight if they don't want it. The most likely response (after cashing the cheque) - if they didn't want it - would probably be to tell you which charity they'd like it donated to.
Your best bet is always asking... if you really want to make them happy, make sure you're getting them what they want.
Mooniacs for iOS and Android
Beer, like many things, is a personal taste. If you sent me a case of Guinness I would be suprised, and happy at the effert, but I would never drink it. Can't stand the stuff. OTOH, if you sent me cash, or a gift card, or even donated money in my name to the eff, It would be equally appreciated, and go to better use.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
I completely agree.
As an example of the sort of difference this can make, consider the case of Steve Outtrim and Sausage Software. I used to work for Sausage Software back in 1996
Sausage's main product was shareware. (I know I know, but just for the sake of argument, consider this case.)
The thing was - instead of saying 'please send a cheque or money order to foo' it said, 'unlock this product by buying a key at our online store'. At that stage online credit card processing was not all that common (1995).
But doing that was, I believe, the main difference between Steve being just another VB shareware developer and his becoming a multi-millionaire. Quite literally, this guy was worth 90 million dollars last time i saw a newspaper article - this largely through sales of shares in the company whose single major success was a shareware HTML editor (HotDog)
I'm not suggesting that OSS developers are the same as Shareware developers. But I think a lot of people would be suprised by how many people actually use there products out there in the wide world.
So being proactive will probably make a *big* difference.
-- I have I think, I do. Didn't I?
What I would like is something like an annual membership
;)
Subscribe to Red Hat Network, then...
There could be premiums -- a mouse pad autographed by Alan Cox
Can't help you with that ATM - but if a "Windows sucks" note autographed by myself will do the job...
This message is provided under the terms outlined at http://www.bero.org/terms.html
I'd just like a way to let them know that I like what they've done
Well, let's see, what do you look like in a thong?
Inventor of the LOLbalrog meme.
maybe OSS programmers who don't intend to gain money for themselves for their work should encourage donations to charity like Bram Moolenaar has done with VIM
http://www.vim.org/
and donations to childrens fund in Uganda
Simply because I code for the love of it, not for the money. Hell, I live out of a 2-story carboard box, code on an old 386 laptop weighing a hefty 50 pounds, and eat sewer trash for meals. And you know what, that Ferrari I bought during the dot-com fiasco just isn't fun to drive anymore. So please don't send me money, just send a simple chain email around the world 50 times to let me know that I have many, many friends.
(Money an insult? You have got to be kidding me! - or smoking some really good weed)
More OSS developers need to be proactive when it comes to getting $. People shouldn't have to ask this question. I think developers would be surprised if they used a little line that said something like "you don't need to, but it'd be appreciated if you sent a check to... ".
It's amazing what you can get sometimes just by asking. Anybody who's read Feynman should get the humorous reference in the title of this post.
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
How about making a donation to the EFF in the developer's or project's name? In light of any number of recent events, that may be one of the best ways to help free software. And I'd be honored by the gesture, with no sense of awkwardness at all, if I were in the developer's place!
No, tiny Tim, we are not going to pay to write for Slashdot.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
I am glad at least one person discovered the spirit of my post.
"Oh, I don't like beer"..."Oh, I'm not of legal age"..."Oh, my god doesn't let me drink beer"...blah, blah, blah...
I just pointed out that Cygnus people, within Red Hat or not, are not working on cygwin as only a part of their development of GNU utilities -- the comment that I am answering to implied that cygwin is their main project.
Cygnus did not write gcc. I believe that was RMS. Red Hat/Cygnus does contribute a lot to the gcc and gdb projects but they did not write these programs and do not own these programs.
Most of work on gcc is now being done by Cygnus.
Cygwin was written by Cygnus employees (hence the name) but, like any successful free software endeavor, it's grown far from its humble beginnings.
A port is a port. A port to the environment as hostile as Windows may be a difficult undertaking, but it's still derived from the same gnu utilities that are still in active development .
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
Don't sell the 'attaboy' email short. It's a great motivation to get some feedback beyond "You suck!" and "It doesn't work. Do I need Windows 2000?" For most small-time developers, it's probably more of an inducement to keep working than a $10 check would be. And it costs you othing but time, so be lavish!
Not that anyone would likely be offended by money.
Now I know why some OSS software is so buggy!
Answer: Fortune and glory, sweetheart. Fortune and glory.
Got Rhinos?
I think most coders will agree with me when I say, "Send those guys/girls a case of beer!"
Some jurisdictions have a minimum drinking age. In the United States it's 21. In Saudi Arabia it's (i.e. Prohibition).
Will I retire or break 10K?
This is an old protocol based on uucp. See the uubp man page for more information.
> Just buy a box or two of Red Hat Linux
Better yet, just buy boxed Cygwin.
Will I retire or break 10K?
HERE
illegitimii non ingravare
More than just the "attaboy", get involved in the development process by reporting bugs. This will streamline the development process and make for a better product in future releases.
When the downloads increase, they'll be thanking you.
The problem with RedHat Network, for me at least, is that it is too expensive. At $20/month, it will cost $240/year. They should have another option, something between RedHat Network and simple box sales for home users. I'd pay an extra $50-$100/year for a service that would give me frequent app updates with all dependencies resolved, but for $250/year I'll continue in do-it-yourself mode.
I don't see any reason why sourceforge and freshmeat or other sites like it could not handle donations, or rather tips for certain projects.
I know that if it was as simple as putting my credit card # in and selecting a project, and tipping $5, i'd have already done it many times. This could all be very easy.
I'll make sure that it gets handled :)
Email me for the mailing address.
So, yeah, free booze, but ask...
So let's pool all the free booze we're going to get out of this story and host the First Annual Intergalactic Kegger...
I have to agree with this. Especially for small projects that don't have the fame that other projects have. I'd say, if the project is small, (*blatant plug to my project below*) then they would just like to know if people actually *using* their program. Spreading the word helps these projects. But if a project is already well-established, like Cygwin, money will probably ensure that the project continues. I say this because if a project is as big as cygwin, the developer has probably heard all the praise in the world, might be forced to support the project full-time thus cutting into their "regular" job, and isn't normally paid for the project.
Money would mean a lot to both kinds of projects, but would probably be more appropriate for a larger project. Praise and telling-your-friends-about-project-x is good for smaller projects. However, if you can code (which I know the author of the article can't), that is the biggest contribution to any project.
Check out Althea for a stable IMAP email client for X. Now with SSL!
Score:1, Insightful
maybe +1 funny is b0rked?
I think that a great way for a non-coder to help with an open-source project is to provide documentation. Heaven knows that most projects need this pretty badly. I think these are the best to write 'new user' documentation anyway. Stuff with screen shots rocks :)
PS - Use the FDL
I think most coders will agree with me when I say, "Send those guys/girls a case of beer!" Nothing spells appreciation as well as B-E-E-R. It doesn't even have to be good beer, it is really the idea that counts...although Guinness isn't ever a bad idea...
I release all the music I write for free. However, if you like it enough to send me a cheque, I certainly wouldn't be insulted, or complain. :) I'm sure the same principle applies to many open source developers. Often, things like web hosting, or simply the cost of a computer upgrade doesn't justify charging for software, but if one philathropist out there feels like throwing some money a developers' way, I don't see many developers rejecting the money?
"Old man yells at systemd"
Although the FSF does not charge for software, they certainly do accept donations and have information about it here. Cygwin was developed very much in the spirit and philosophy of the GNU project, and if you make a donation and inform both FSF and Cygwin that it's a token of recognition for Cygwin, you can be certain that there will be good will and warm vibes all around. You'll also be helping Cygwin in a material way, because they benefit from the FSF's efforts, and the FSF has operating costs that you'll be helping them defray.
The LinuxPPC project also encourages donations to the FSF -- when you order their stuff online, there's a box where you can enter any amount you'd like to donate.
I'm probably sounding like more of a fan of the FSF than I really am here -- sometimes RMS grates me in the profoundest way -- but I just think this is what fits your desires best. There's nothing excessively material and unworthy about donating cash; many organizations make good use of it and will be deeply grateful. If that's a way for you to get a warm, fuzzy feeling, go do it. The fuzzies will surely come right back at you.
Always keep a sapphire in your mind
Uhh, say what? You're having second thoughts about sending us money? If you got a check in the mail, with no strings attached, would you send it back? (btw, if anyone wants to send ME money, by all means just ask for a fscking address)
I am !amused.
but weed is better
One word: paypal. :-)
Daniel
See, here's the thing... I make out okay in the money and beer department, but I don't always have the money to pay for cool geek toys. Find a cool geek toy that's roughly in the price range you're thinking, preferably one that you can verify or guess that they don't have. If its linux compatible and/or can help them continue developing, then that's even better!
Some quick ideas in the under $100 range:
That's it I could come up with... any other ideas?
I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
I heard of one freeware project that someone at Msft like so much that they chipped in to buy them an all-expense-paid vacation to Bangalor, India, and the programmer was never heard from again.
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
The most gratifying part of developing free software is watching the download numbers spin up. Immortality through software, in exchange for a few weeks of part-time volunteer work.
To K.M. Syring for making a 'Cygwin lite' toolset for Win32 : http://unxutils.sourceforge.net/
Most OSS programmers aren't writing software with the specific intention of not being paid for it :) The idea is that people shouldn't be forced to pay for software, not that they shouldn'y be allowed to. The worst response I can imagine is getting a message from them saying that they "don't accept cash" and have torn up your check :)
:)
And money isn't the only way to thank someone; a grateful user once had a couple cases of Dew delivered to me, and I was thrilled (though in general it might be best yo avoid gifts like caffeine or programming tools, as it might be interpreted as "thanks for the software, now work harder!"). If you're unsure what to get for your favorite coder/group, write them! Even if they won't accept anything in return, just knowing that you'd like to will give them a sense of accomplishment about their work (making your software free-as-in-beer isn't as meaningful if it's not something people would pay for
Always remember that "just an email" is never just an email. OSS developers have dedicated an often-significant portion of their lives to producing something they know they may never be appreciated for. It's nice to know when people do appreciate it.
Unless, of course, scissors can't cut rock...
The overlooked R, reduce. Don't buy stuff you don't need.
All these replies about beer reminded me of a couple software packages I've downloaded that were "beer ware": basically if you like the program and use it a lot you are encouraged to send the developer a case of beer. Sounds like a good license to me!
"I don't care about the Constitution!" --Bill O'Reilly, November 17, 2009
I think he wanted to help the people that wrote Cygwin, not RMS....
NO CARRIER
Another way is to do something for the community, which everyone would love. For instance, help purchase and colocate a server for the community to develop on. Or host a social for the developers to meet and drink beer together. Or help purchase tshirts for everyone to get.
The best way, IMHO, to show support for an OSS community is to help keep it live and vibrant.
talli
While financial rewards and praise are all great, there is one thing that every open source developer would be happy to accept from you:
STOP USING WINDOWS.
Zealotry aside, the fact that you and a lot of other people use Windows, helps the people who constantly damage what we make and love, so by refusing to support them even if it is 3% more convenient for you than, say, Linux or *BSD, you help to hurt us, and there isn't much else that can compensate this. Next time when some hideous API will create horrible incompatibilities with our software, when part of format will get patented, or when frivolous lawsuit will be brought against some of us, we won't think about praise or money we got from you, we will just think that by using Windows you have added to their dominance and paved the road that they are marching on. It's not like we hate you personally for that, but we would appreciate if you will refuse to help our enemies.
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
as i've had karma to burn for years I render myself awake from this big sleep and ask:
How the hell do I get rid of that wasteful multiline prompt that Cygwin gives me?
Is this basH? baj!! bah!!!
Someone let me know the answer, then I might appreciate.
Moderators: Offtopic: No, Funny: No, Informative: No, Insightful: Only if you Know, Troll: Don't be stupid, leave the rest to you idiots.
I can see it now... Silicon Valley Jones, whipping people with his coil of network cable, stumbling over broken bridges and routers, fending off the mad Manager with his cult of marketing flunkees, trying to restore the 5 magic goose eggs to his paycheck. So remember... next time your manager calls you into his office, be sure to bring your coil of network cable and your own theme music.
Fortune and glory, sweetheart. Fortune and glory.
Inconceivable!
- Join a mailing list and help people out if they have got problems that you can solve. You cannot image how easy to answer some question are. But they take time to answer. Write an FAQ.
- Help the developers getting information. For GNumeric, that would be for example providing EXCEL sheets that don't work with current versions of GNumeric. For GPhoto, contact any manufacturer that won't release specs for their digital cameras and ask for information.
- Translate projects.
- ...
It's not all about money...Survey: Does anybody ever read stories that are two days old? Does anybody ever post to stories that are that old? Do moderators ever moderate stories that old?
If you're reading this thread and are a moderator, please moderate me DOWN, just so I know. I've even used a +1 bonus to make it easier to find. However, if you've come to this message some other way than by reading this thread (such as from my user page), or if you aren't moderating, instead you can reply to this message.
Thanks!
Marvin
I'm not a journalist, but I play one on slashdot
The paper (box, manual, etc.) is recyclable.
As for the disks, one could donate them (as someone else mentioned), or they can be used in countless arts and crafts projects (my kids have managed to put every AOL cd we've received to good use). These eventually get thrown away, of course, but at least it represents a second use, and every CD pressed will eventually end up in a landfill anyway.
This is probably better than what happens to unsold boxes when the computer store has to dispose of them.
If you're impressed enough to want to send money to the developers of the incredibly flaky and unstable Cygwin, I imagine you'd want to make yourself an indentured servant to David Korn and the rest of the U/Win team. (For those that don't know, U/Win is a lot like Cygwin, except 1) it works, 2) it's faster, and 3) it works like real Unix instead of GNU crap.)
(f I sound bitter over this, it's because I was badly bitten by a series of very fundamental and inexcusable bugs in Cygwin only the week before last. None of them should have ever seen the light of day. For a bit of hair-pulling agony, try using Cygwin's expr to divide sometime. Hint: It can't!
"The future's good and the present is nothing to sneeze at." - Roblimo's last
Most coders especially OSS are doing because they love it/have to code, much like some writers HAVE to WRITE. But who doesn't like an HONEST thanks and maybe a night out ?
errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
He eats alot too
errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
A lot of packages are code-rich, but documentation-poor (such as the project I lead, Gimp-Print). If your writing skills are good, and you understand how something works from a "normal user" perspective, your assistance in that regard could be invaluable.
There's a bit of a danger in sending money to individual developers, particularly on large projects. If somebody sent me money out of the blue for the work I've done on Gimp-Print, I'd find it rather embarrassing, since it's a team effort; I'd turn right around and donate it to the FSF, or EFF, or someone else who's doing some good. Donating money to one of these organizations in the name of the project (as long as you're sure that that's not going to offend the key people on the project; donating to the FSF in the name of someone who's violently opposed to RMS would be most insulting) would be a way of furthering the ultimate goals of the people working pro bono on the project, while not singling out individual contributors to the project.
http://www.linuxfund.org/ Not much more to say. Link
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
True, destroying copyrighted works is not a violation of copyright. However, I claim that the indelible paint prevents people from putting a piece of paper over my graffiti and rubbing a copy of my art onto their paper. Such action is definitely a violation of copyright, my indelible paint is thus a protection measure, and anything which circumvents that protection is illegal under the DMCA, regardless of how it's actually used.
Actually, it doesn't even matter whether you use the soap at all; simply distributing or describing the soap is a felony. Of course, if you invented the soap yourself, you're in the clear.
Welcome to the Digital Millennium, old chap!
If I expected $$ for my work (or even wanted it), I wouldn't be releasing it for free.
What is most gratifying (to me anyway) is to see my software gain a life of its own.
You (the original poster) may not be inclined to contribute code, or bug reports, or feature requests, but as more users become involved, chances are that they will contribute in some directly productive way.
In short, if you can't be directly productive, invite others you know to try the software.
Evangelize!