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Gnome.org Desktop Integration Bounty Hunt

Posted by michael on from the power-of-the-purse dept.

tempest303 writes "In order to help improve integration between apps on the Gnome desktop, Gnome.org is offering bounties for the completion of a variety of integration tasks. Bounties range from $15, for submitting new .ical files for Evolution 2.0's multiple calendar view, to $2500 for allowing synchronization between Evolution's addressbook with Gaim's buddy list!"

4 of 329 comments (clear)

  1. Good question... by Balinares · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    > Why making things more complicated instead of making them
    > simplier?

    Ever tried to code against the Gnome API, and especially the integration features (bonobo et al)? Do give it a try.

    I fear it's MUCH too late to make it simple.

    So instead they monetize it. Interesting idea. Whatever works, I suppose...

    But I'm not really sure what to think of it, honestly. That'd they'd have to involve money to have things that SHOULD be simple get done... But then, what do I know, maybe that's where open source is headed, I don't know.

    --

    -- B.
    This sig does in fact not have the property it claims not to have.
  2. Re:Nice but by pVoid · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    the judging panel will do its best to choose the highest-quality submission and award a bounty to the submitter responsible for it.

    So like I said, 40 people will be contracted for a job, and 39 will be dropped based on 'poor quality work'.

  3. The 'free' software idea by fireteller2 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I don't mean to bait, but I have to say that this is an elegant and succinct demonstration of the fundamental flaw in the concept of 'free' software. The socialist idea that we will all do our best with no compensation other then the ability to use other people's work, has holes.

    This model of idea weather applied to software or to government always makes the mistake of not accounting for human weaknesses. Free software works, to the degree that it does, based on the profit motive of ego. However, without money the boring work that doesn't boost the programmer's reputation has no profit value whatsoever, and this is where you find all the missing pieces in open source software. That and the duplication of effort, so that each programmer can plant his flag and get the ego boost that is his only reward, which is so prevalent in open source software.

    My apologies if this is inflammatory, but it seems to me that this article does kind of prove the argument. It puts into question weather open source software can ever produce a product that is better then a for profit alternative. On the other hand this does not undermine the educational value of open source.

    fire

  4. Why did it take them so long to do this? by Adolph_Hitler · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Look, now we do this? Now we use money in the open source world? If the Gnome people were smart they'd host a UI design contest and use money to get a better interface because I'm sorry, the Gnome designers just do not have a clue when it comes to useability. They are geeks and programmers! They would be better of letting us normal people decide what features we want. Currently Gnome is unusable because they keep removing features THEY (The geeks) dont like. KDE is for me because KDE listens to its users.

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    People don't exist to serve systems, systems exist to serve people.