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General Motors Embraces Open Source for New Community Site
An anonymous reader writes "GM has introduced a new website called GMnext. The site utilizes Wordpress and launching in spring a Wiki allowing General Motors to get better feedback on topics such as energy, design and technology from the community. The interesting part is the executives at GM are participating in the collaborative website. 'We're starting our second century at a time of fundamental change in the auto industry,' said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. 'We'll use GMnext to introduce some of our ideas for addressing critical issues concerning energy, the environment and globalization. In the process, we also hope to spark a broader, global discussion on these important topics.'"
The site is ugly.
It looks like the marketing guys got into the buzz of Web 2.0 and told their Windows programmers that they wanted that for their site. The result? A .NET site with Wordpress knee-jerked inside. The site (as most of .NET crap) doesn't even
validate. Even the blog, based on Wordpress, must
have been so messed up that it doesn't
validate either.
And what an awful theme! Where do these guys get their webdesigners from?
Although I think they still have a lot to learn about using open source, I have to applaud at least their try. Although it's one step back, it's two forward. :-)
I like the idea but I don't see it going very far or very long. GM isn't really going to support any negative few points, maybe if you're really careful with your wording. But I see censorship being the issue short term and actual GM participation being the long term question. That being said, I would love to see something like this from an organization like Consumer Reports.
I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask where they're goin' and hook up with 'em later.
I worked for GM. And when I worked there, the use of FOSS was absolutely, positively forbidden. Good to see them finally getting a clue.
My blog
Say with me. Using Wordpress is not "embracing open-source". A Wiki is not "open-source".
Saying using Wordpress is embracing open source is like saying using the LAMP stack for a webserver is embracing open source. In that sense, almost ever company out there has embraced open source by now. But we know that to not be the case.
Don't get me wrong: I think the idea is great. But you're going to tell me that GM is "embracing" Open Source simply by creating a blog and a wiki by using the two most popular software titles in those categories?
All of a sudden GM is elevated to the Google or Sun status in terms of FOSS on Slashdot. Typical.
The Computations of AdamR
http://www.adamreyher.com
right on. with open source I'll make 750 rwhp with a 2008 cts-v with a stock ecu
So they're making a community interaction site to get people's ideas and suggestions and opinions on their company and the environment. Hmm, well I'm not psychic but I bet they're going to say they want more fuel efficient vehicles or ones that don't run on gasoline and to stop with the pension sinkhole problem.
Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
These people don't give a shit what anyone thinks. IMO it's a thinly veiled attempt at generating some good PR that GM hopes will sway people to support them when they file for bankruptcy and go to the government with their hat in their hands. Either that or they'll be looking to get out from under all their pension liabilities above and beyond the retiree health benefits which they already got out from under IIRC. GM's officers and board of directors should have to put their wives and daughters on the street if necessary to hold up their end of the deals they freely made.
Open source or no open source, they made their bed and now they can lie in it. Hogwash PR barely even newsworthy.
Executives blogging is still marketing. I want a car that starts out at one hundred miles per gallon, is open to hacking, and anyone can manufacture the design. Then you've embraced open source. When your ready to turn your mfg resources into efficient commodities, give me a call.
The timing of this was not random...GM CEO Rick Wagoner is a keynote speaker at CES this weekend, and next weekend is their bread and butter, the Detroit Auto Show. Undoubtedly this was timed to create buzz for them at these events. It is a pretty cool idea, and I hope GM and their customers make the most of it. Bob Lutz seems like the kind of guy who would love this. But I also wouldn't be surprised if we never hear much about it again after the next couple of weeks.
Airplane Photos, Airline News, Planespotting Guides
How about open sourcing the Volt? And standardizing its batteries (to spur innovation for replacements down the line)? And delivering it before 2010? That'd be something to get excited about...
This is from the company that bought up street car systems only to scrap them.
So yeah, the tag exploitnotembrace is about right.
No other suggestions. No need for a whole damn wiki.
...who programs GM computers for performance applications, I'll buy into GM "embracing" open source when they release the programming specs and memory layout for their PCMs, ECMs, and TCMs (powertrain, engine, and transmission control modules). Short of that, their use of WordPress really doesn't impress me (pun intended).
And likewise by saying "the executives at GM are participating in the collaborative website" must mean the executives' names and possibly signatures will be appended to some brainstormed over goop of corporate media speak.
Domestic automakers dropped the ball on hybrid/EV research and toyota and honda ate their lunch. I guess this is a sign they want their marketing people to get a better pulse of what people will actually be willing to buy.
It's a relatively healthy sign, because if it had been up to them, they would have continued to bet that most people would ignore environmental realities and just keep happily buying view-blocking lane-filling massive-accident-causing CO2-belching 6 mpg monster SUV dreadnaughts.
You can't send a takedown notice to an already printed newspaper.
What I really want is an open source car. I'd love to be able to look at or alter the software that runs cruise control and stuff like that.
Seek and ye shall find.
Yeah after making cars for near a century they have done so much for the environment we still dont have any of the 50+ mpg cars they promised over a decade ago and no real Electric Alternatives since the destruction of the EV1. There commitment to the environment is BS they care more about profit that anything. While they have done somethings over the years its always went right back to profitability and overhead. Tell them they need to do more, all the automakers do.
IT'S A TRAP!
I agree. It also seems that everyone has forgotten that GM is the biggest promoter of spyware in their cars. The On-star system for one (which you might remember from past Slashdot articles) lets a hostile attacker listen in on your conversation, as well as take control of key elements of your car. All without your knowledge, or approval or control.
While I applaud even this limited attempt by some small faction within GM to try to embrace Open Source, GM has been the greatest control-freak in the US car industry, and is certainly right up there in the world.
Still, a move like this gives me some hope that we'll eventually see Open Source cars someday among the car manufacturers.
So, GM should be applauded. But let's bring it all out in the open. Until then, I will never, ever buy a GM car. But I will support them in their move towards Open Source.
People, you're all overlooking the truly important and ground breaking part of this:
GM have rediscovered the missing step #2!
1: Use O/S software in inconsequential product &/or manner
2: Wait until Slashdot does your PR for you
3: Profit!
What part of "a well regulated militia" do you not understand?
This will only ever be Astroturfing until they stop their massive political lobbying efforts that are going the other way.
Expect to see lots of deleted or amended posts and unusually eloquent supporters of GM's corporate goals.
I'd like to see full disclosure of the sites web logs so that third parties can verify that comments are not just from gm funded lobbyists.
Toodle-pip
Amias
[site]
I think GM saw Toyota passing Ford and catching up in US sales and realized they needed to change in order to stay on top of the American automobile market.
The guy was on at the same time with an engineering student-entrepreneur working on a alternative energy auto(IIRC) and his responses were banal, dismissive, and negative over the entire issue; does the guy actually know how he sounds?
And, GM would love for you to tell them how to run their business, to be successful. I suggest that he demonstrated exactly the kind of company GM is internally.
And, as a Michigander, companies are filled with passive-aggressive management(managers), arrogant small-business-owner elites who manipulate the government, take advantage of the strong economic and labor disparities(many people travel many,many miles as cheapest labor, and mostly not interested in "big capitalism"; they want a simple job, heat their homes, enjoy the outdoors, and go out to eat once a week).
Tool developers in GM Powertrain use Eclipse. Some of their test/production servers run on *nix.
GM is not explicitly against using OSS, they just have a very fat bureaucracy; getting them to let you purchase or install a tool department-wide is about a 1-year process (minimum). During this time they delibrate a bunch of pointless crap, but mainly they look at quality and developer accountability before letting you do anything.
after the split of Chrysler's brand name and manufacturing assets where only Chrysler's dealer network will remain untouched in North
America for Chinese vehicles.
After GM is Ford.
Cheers.
Why is this here? This isn't news, the is fake-news. This is marketing-department stuff, squeezing "GM embraces FOSS" into their press release to get it onto Slashdot!
This GMnext flash site is a damn maze and almost impossible to navigate. I didn't last 3 minutes on the site before x'ed out. Show you what idiots the people who run big corporation are.