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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Bruce-</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Without having seen the sentences on either side of the one
you quote, I think I'd argue that the author is not wrong in his
statement: is not </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>what we here call a PSC, and indeed the
OSGeo Foundation itself, an embodiment of "some form of central
authority"?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>..which is not to say your own arguments are wrong,
obviously -- it just may be that you're reading something stronger into
what the author actually had in mind?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=333071910-25012008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>-mpg</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT><BR>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Bruce.Bannerman@dpi.vic.gov.au<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 25, 2008
12:43 AM<BR><B>To:</B> OSGeo Discussions<BR><B>Subject:</B> [OSGeo-Discuss]
Does Open Source need a supervisory government body?<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>IMO:</FONT> <BR><BR><BR><FONT
face=sans-serif size=2>Sorry for the inflamatory subject heading. I'm hoping
to get a few bites with my fishing...</FONT> <BR><BR><BR><BR><FONT
face=sans-serif size=2>I'm currently reviewing a high level government
strategy paper (in draft) and intend submitting a formal response.</FONT>
<BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>I'd like to see some discussion on the
subject by my respected colleagues prior to making the submission.</FONT>
<BR><BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>The gist of the comment in the draft
strategy is something like:</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>"Open
Source approaches to software development will be most effective if some form
of central authority undertakes the role of verifying contributions and
providing quality control."</FONT> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif
size=2>My initial reaction and response to this is something like:</FONT>
<BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>"This is a misreading of how Open Source
works. </FONT><BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Successful Open Source
Projects typically have software of superior quality. This is usually due to
there being many developers who have access to the software for QA
purposes.</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Any attempt to impose a
central authority from outside of Open Source projects would be rebuffed
vigorously and result in a probably irrepairable relationship between that
party and the project(s) involved.</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif
size=2>The most successful centralised Open Source authority is probably the
Apache Foundation (http://www.apache.org/) which is behind a wide range of
projects including the Apache Web Server, probably the most widely used Web
Server on the Internet. The Foundation pioneered the concept of 'Meritocracy',
where people earn respect and are given greater responsibility for projects
based on their past contributions and 'merit'. The Foundation grew from within
the Project. It was not imposed on the Project. They have developed an
enviable reputation for spawning, incubating and fostering robust Open Source
Projects that routinely produce high quality software.</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT
face=sans-serif size=2>Nearly two years ago, an organisation called the Open
Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGEO, http://www.osgeo.org/) was formed
based on the Apache ethos, to provide similar support for Open Source Spatial
applications. They currently have a number of prominent spatial projects in
Incubation with a number of other equally capable projects waiting for the
next vacancy for incubation."</FONT> <BR><BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif
size=2>OK, over to you. I'm interested in all points of view on this
issue.</FONT> <BR><BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Bruce Bannerman</FONT>
<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
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