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The "Doctor Who" Model of Open Source
Glyn Moody writes "Open source projects are generally fine when there's a long-term leader like Linus; but what happens when nobody is able or willing to run things for extended periods? Peter Murray-Rust explains how the open chemistry group known as the Blue Obelisk has evolved what he calls the 'Doctor Who Model of Open Source': 'You'll recall that every few years something fatal happens to the Doctor and you think he is going to die and there will never be another series. Then he regenerates. The new Doctor has a different personality, a different philosophy (though always on the side of good). It is never clear how long any Doctor will remain unregenerated or who will come after him. And this is a common theme in the Blue Obelisk.' Could other open source projects learn from this experience as long-term leaders start to move on?"
After 12 deaths, you need hyper-advanced aliens from another planet to grant a new regeneration cycle? Does Davros take over? I'll explain later.
Feudalism with a herditary monarchy. Trouble is anybody who works on open source projects doesn't breed, so you'd have succession wars all the time.
No change there, then.
Only three things are certain; death, taxes, and apocryphal quotations - Ben Franklin.
You mean the model where something is only deemed entertaining because everything else is either soccer or BBC news? And after a decade or so people just stop caring and the the whole things becomes a kind of national joke? That model?
I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
And if the project lays dormant for a while and comes back in a completely new direction that doesn't even match up with where the project previously was, they'll just make up a "Time War" to explain away the differences.
"he has built a Cult of Personality that will immediately cripple whoever follows."
Jobs certainly embodies Apple and is the person most people associate with it but whoever immediately follows Jobs will do fine. It's the guy after that who strangles his companions and gets put on trial where he is his own prosecutor that will struggle.
I dunno, I think there might be something here, but also expand on it:
The Dalek model: One strong personality creates the project, and gets it to a first release.. then the other developers overthrow him, split the project, wage holy war upon the rest of the world (and each other), but occasionally bring back the original founder for their own reasons.. overall the project won't die since it's still popular with the masses even though everyone knows it's evil. (I submit 'Joomla/Mambo' for this model)
The Cybermen Model: Have a basic idea/product, but adapt it to every possible platform known to man even though there's little change between them. (I submit as an example the 'Nuke' CMS)
The "Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart" model: A project led by a Scottish project lead for the sole-purpose of getting tax credits
----- The internet has given everyone the ability to have their voice heard equally as loud.. even if they shouldn't be
So that makes Hans Reiser the 6th Doctor, right?
I find the "Dread Pirate Roberts" Model to be the most effective model for open source.
I agree, Dr. Who is probably not the best analogy for the model they are describing.
Instead we should consider that the project leaders are like the drummers in the band, they set the rhythm and tempo at which the project moves.
Most bands have only one drummer through the life of the band, because the drummer's style defines the band so much. If that drummer leaves the band, or spontaneously combusts, the band often drifts into obscurity. This is much like many OS projects. There are exceptions, of course.
The most obvious exception in the world of bands is Spinal Tap. So I think we should call this the "Spinal Tap" model, rather than the "Dr. Who" model.
Plus, you get dancing dwarfs on miniature stonehenges, and versions that go up to eleven.
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
"While I firmly believe that Apple can do well after Steve Jobs leaves, he has built a Cult of Personality that will immediately cripple whoever follows."
^_^ Ah, that's where your wrong. Steve Jobs plans to die battling an army of Microsoft servers for freedom and puppies... he will change the Cult of Personality into a Cult of Martyrism, led by his dying wish to crush evil and defend new ideas!
O.o and bam, they replace him with NO one, and every new Mac is "In memory of our brave, noble leader".
I steal signatures. This one used to be yours.
Well, if anyone is the daleks my pick would be Oracle.
Running around pointing and screaming "Exterminate" is totally Larry Ellson'ish.
If you are reading this then you are part of the resistance.
Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.
Key members of the project being replaced after a certain amount of time would be more aptly named the Menudo Model Of Open Source.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menudo_(band)
You mean Eccelston wasn't even considered for the part back in 1963 (when the first series started) when he was -1 years old (born in 1964)?
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