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Interview With Asterisk Creator Mark Spencer

Posted by timothy on from the so-did-you-always-want-to-be-a-comedian? dept.

ZX81 writes "We've just completed an interview with Mark Spencer AKA Markster, the creator of Asterisk (an Open Source PBX replacement running on Linux). He details the start of the Asterisk project and the direction for the future."

28 comments

  1. Always the way by Xerp · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I usually work at the office 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST However, I rarely get to spend much time doing technical things while I'm at work.

    PHB? Hehe. Sounds just like my job. At work I play "scrapheap challenge" in the server room, and label boxes with "rubbish" for the cleaners to take out. At home I code PHP and test loads of Linux build.

    But its great that in such a growth area a VoIP we've got a great OpenSource product like Asterisk.

    1. Re:Always the way by ZX81 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      But its great that in such a growth area a VoIP we've got a great OpenSource product like Asterisk.

      I couldn't agree more!

      The amount of crap this guy has to put up with is more than anyone's fair share! He does a great job of being the benevolant dictator in a difficult product.

      I really do believe that Asterisk for voice will be the same as Apache for html.

      We can but hope and wait.

      (oh yeah and evangalize!) :-)

      --
      -={ Security does not exist - give up }=-
    2. Re:Always the way by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 1

      The amount of crap this guy has to put up with is more than anyone's fair share! He does a great job of being the benevolant dictator in a difficult product.

      I don't get it... I thought Asterix was all about overthrowing dictators

      --
      -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  2. Asterix by Spudley · · Score: 2, Funny


    "These programmers are crazy!"

    tap-tap-tap.

    "Why, Asterix, they don't even eat wild boar."

    --
    (Spudley Strikes Again!)
    1. Re:Asterix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you circumcised? If not, please consider it.

  3. The Future seems bright by Evanrude · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have been using Asterisk for several months, and I am extremely impressed with the capabilities it has.
    As I use it more and more I am always amazed by the features that it as compared to other PBX systems that cost thousands of dollars. I own a small business and without Asterisk we wouldn't have been able to afford a phone system. We have also been fortunate enough to be able to work with a few local businesses looking at the possibility of deploying Asterisk systems. I look forward to developing for Asterisk in the future (when time permits) as well as continuing to explore the vast array of services that it provides.
    Kudos to Mark and the gang for an excellent piece of software.

    --

    ~.Evanrude
    1. Re:The Future seems bright by Omega1045 · · Score: 2, Funny
      This site best viewed with Firefix

      Nice.

      --

      Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds. - Albert Einstein

  4. Metaboo game by ZX81 · · Score: 1

    So does anyone know any more about this metaboo game he mentions?

    --
    -={ Security does not exist - give up }=-
    1. Re:Metaboo game by ZX81 · · Score: 1

      Heh, well litimax has posted his number guessing game!

      Ah the fun...who needs counterstrike!

      http://www.sineapps.com/news.php?rssid=355

      heh

      --
      -={ Security does not exist - give up }=-
    2. Re:Metaboo game by ZX81 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, here's a description of the metaboo game:

      http://kevan.org/games/metaboo.html

      So I guess he's just implemented that via the telephone...

      --
      -={ Security does not exist - give up }=-
    3. Re:Metaboo game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here is what we did ...

      You have a phone that calls the application. This could be a speaker phone sitting in the middle of the table. This phone gives you instructions, plays music on hold while you play, and keeps and reports the score.

      When it is your team's turn to go, your word comes to you over Caller-ID.

      In theory, this could be used in a conference call with people playing from around the world using the capabilities already in Asterisk.

      Russell

    4. Re:Metaboo game by ZX81 · · Score: 1

      Nice! :-)

      So when will be be able to get a copy?

      heh I can just imagine it now, the world economy comes to a grinding halt as boardrooms everywhere are overtaken by Metaboo!

      --
      -={ Security does not exist - give up }=-
    5. Re:Metaboo game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      First, sorry about the AC tag, I lurk and dont post.

      Metaboo works by placing all the players in a large conference call, and then sending clues to players via caller ID, so that only certain players receive certain clues. IIRC, the number keys are used to assign scores, change turns, etc. The game is still heavily in development, so no idea about availability.

      I have no idea how to get it, but I would ask in the asterisk IRC channel.

    6. Re:Metaboo game by ZX81 · · Score: 1

      Hate to reply to my own post, but here's the game:

      http://www.sineapps.com/news.php?rssid=360

      --
      -={ Security does not exist - give up }=-
  5. Creator Mark Spencer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought that it was created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo...

  6. A whole interview?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    For this:

    *

    ????

    1. Re:A whole interview?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      heh

  7. Re:He is not the 'creator' and not the guy .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're full of shit.

    It's no wonder you post as anonymous Coward.

    Fkn Sad

  8. Re:He is not the 'creator' and not the guy .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Come on Darl, show us the code already.

  9. Mark Spencer is awesome! by SpaFF · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In addition to Asterisk, Mark was also one of the original coders of GAIM. He's from around my neck of the woods, so I've been lucky enough to speak with him (briefly) at a few cons. He's a really cool guy.

    --
    -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.12 GIT d? s: a-- C++++ UL++++ P++ L+++ E- W++ N o-- K- w--- O- M+ V PS+ P
  10. Is Asterisk Ready for the big leagues? by ashitaka · · Score: 1

    I have two Asterisk boxes; one at home for play and the other sitting at the office as a backup ready to take over if our 20-year-old ROLM switch dies.

    I got a quote yesterday from our interconnect on the cost to add a couple of T1 cards to the ROLM so we can get off the excessive copper trunks we have: C$69,000! For that much I can create a complete Asterisk-based VOIP system with far more abilities.

    The other quote for a new traditional Siemens PBX was in the range of C$180K. So why would I want to buy a traditional PBX vs building something on Asterisk? Difficulty: 180-user law firm.

    --
    If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
    1. Re:Is Asterisk Ready for the big leagues? by bluGill · · Score: 1

      One issue: you want more than a simple PC for your lawfirm's PBX. You want something the can at least recover automaticly from a crash. 2 PCs, RAID disks, UPS, and the like. You might already know this, but it is important to point it out so some idiot doesn't get the wrong idea.

    2. Re:Is Asterisk Ready for the big leagues? by ashitaka · · Score: 1

      We discussed this over lunch today. Except for one outage that had us down for a day and the occasional power outage the ROLM has run non-stop for nigh on 17 years.

      Any PC-based system must be fault-tolerant. At least having a second pre-configured PC around is cheaper than a full PBX. Hell I could have five backups available including a couple off-site.

      --
      If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
    3. Re:Is Asterisk Ready for the big leagues? by gotih · · Score: 2, Insightful

      my $0.02

      considering the fact that you could build a well equipped asterisk server with dual processors, raid, ups, redundant power supplies, etc. for around $3,000, you could set it up and see how things go. if it doesn't work out, then go with the expensive proprietary stuff and sell your server or use it for something else. ...or take it home for "testing!"

      --

      fear is the mind killer
    4. Re:Is Asterisk Ready for the big leagues? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you high on drugs or something? Isn't marijuana legal in certain parts of Canada? Sure, you can get an asstrix based setup for less than that, but guess what? It'll not even come close to anything you can buy, especially Siemens. If * is so great, why don't you replace the ROLM right now? See, it was one thing to have open-sores software on webservers or whatever, but to replace telephone systems? That's absolutely ludicrous.

      Like you said, one at home for play and another as a standby which hasn't done one call in its life. I would really like to see you post comments if you actually get that thing running in the office, it would sure be entertaining.

      Again, asstrix has its place -- in the lab. Anyone who tries to use it in a commercial environment is just asking for trouble.

      You guys are really off your rocker on slashdot.

    5. Re:Is Asterisk Ready for the big leagues? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why even waste your time? You can easily buy a PBX a couple of years old with a shitload of features, surely enough to power any type of law firm.

      Just buy a real phone system that works, and anyone under the sun can service. Techies take note: just 'cause you can do something more efficient or less expensively on paper doesn't mean it's going to work in reality.

      Do you really think any serious business is going to trust something as critical as their telephones to some home-built computer? HAHAHA, put down the crack pipe.

      You want VoIP? See someone like Avaya, don't waste your time with *.