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Get Listed Free In Gov't Open Source Directory

Posted by michael on from the let-your-fingers-do-the-walking dept.

BanJoota writes "Probably most useful for U.S. people, but sounds like a good deal. The story (at Newsforge) says you can list your Open Source business, non-profit group or Open Source project or whatever for free in a 'Who's Who and Who's Doing What in Open Source' book that's being distributed to government agencies on March 15. The deadline's March 1, so better act fast." Newsforge and Slashdot are both part of OSDN. Remember to keep your write-up suitable for pointy-headed managers...

8 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. What a convenient guide! by Attaturk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The tin-foil hat brigade may want to bear in mind that Ashcroft, Tenet, Rumsfeld etc. may also take an interest in "Who's Who and Who's Doing What in Open Source" ;-)

  2. Progress by Piethon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is interresting for several reasons beyond the obvious; The government is now making information available about open source, which means they know it exists. This information will also get reviewed by government agencies and could possibly lead to more open source adoption by government agencies, which would encourage more people in the population to be exposed to OSS. This also gives some air of credibility to open source, possibly the kind that suits will catch on to it and adopt OSS more.

    1. Re:Progress by smiff · · Score: 4, Insightful
      The government is now making information available about open source

      Who runs egovos.org and what makes you think it's the government? According to whois, the registrant and administrative contact is Tony Stanco (don't know if that's really the same person).

  3. Write For PHB's And Reference for Engineers by Spanky+Lovesalot · · Score: 5, Insightful
    While it's important to keep the write-up suitable for manager types who want quick overviews, please also remember to include at least references to places where I can find more technical information.

    Sometimes some of my biggest battles in adopting OSS in the gov't/DoD are convincing my fellow engineers. These are old school engineer types who are very scared of change. Even if it sounds reasonable, there better be a damn good reason to change to something new, especially something as "untested" as OSS.

  4. well by Digitus1337 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Last I heard, open source "threatens capitalism". Are we adding ourselves to a black-list?

    1. Re:well by Lord+of+Ironhand · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Different government elements have different goals and motivations, and even though I'm a tinfoil hat-type, I refuse to believe that this is intended as a sort of disguised voluntary blacklist.

      That being said, open source has many enemies, and not all of those have objections against "playing it dirty". Should an open source opponent ever try to associate open source with, say, terrorism, and succeed; it will not exactly help those on this list sleep better.

  5. Note to self: by BiggerIsBetter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Don't get involved in strong-encryption anonymous peer-to-peer projects, particularly those with any sort of anti-DMCA capability, within the United States. And if I do this outside the United States, don't then visit the United States.

    --
    Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
  6. This could really make you successful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...in your efforts to get more spam.