[OSGeo-Discuss] Next 5 years for OSGeo

[Dimitris Kotzinos]

Dear all,

I think that organizations like OSGeo have the difficult task to combine 
two - not always compatible - lines of action:
a/ expand our user base
b/ foster the open source software development projects
In that sense we are a bit different from organizations like Apache 
Foundation, where the user base is rather established or at least they 
are not the only source of user base expansion.

In that sense I would suggest that in the next 3 - 5 years we tackle 
both issues but look at them separately in the beginning but combine as 
much as possible. So, my suggestions:
a/ user base
1. expand the provided support for local chapters, probably try to find 
some seed money for those or sponsor some publicity
2. survey the users on what they feel is missing from the open source 
portfolio and try to form related developer communities, not necessarily 
top down but maybe with a strong influence - it is also important for 
non-developers to feel that they can influence things in a rather strong 
way (being a developer myself and re-reading what I just wrote, I might 
found that not particularly compelling :) but I think it would be 
acceptable after some time)
3. look to other organizations for Open Source, like Apache or Mozilla 
Foundations, to see how we can cooperate or just get some ideas
4. publicize a set of goals for the next 2 or 3 years and then report on 
  our success (or failure :))

b/ open source software development
1. take in more (all) existing projects that relate to GIS
2. attract more developers by reaching out to universities and companies 
(my experience is that at least in Greece is difficult to attract 
developers - not just developers that use OSS -  to FOSS4G)
3. get some companies to contribute code for products that we consider a 
useful addition, to the open source community
4. have a presentation to major open source developer conferences/events
5. more technical support for developers and some incentive for people 
to contribute back code they develop, also a process to ease that 
contribution
6. flexibility for people to start their own projects under OSGeo (even 
if they eventually fail)

Sorry for the lengthy e-mail but I think that the subject deserves some 
organized attention and thanks to Tyler that brought it up.

Best,

Dimitris