MapServer Foundation - Open Letter

[Gary Lang]

This was a suggetion Steve had. I always liked it.

--- Original Message ---
From: "Bart van den Eijnden" <BEN at SYNCERA-ITSOLUTIONS.NL>
Sent: Wed 11/30/2005 11:25 am
To: "MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU" <MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] MapServer Foundation - Open Letter

Why limit it to webmapping only? This would exclude things like PostGIS, uDIG etc. from joining.

My suggestion would be Open Source GIS Foundation or Open Source GIS Software Foundation.

Best regards,
Bart

Bart van den Eijnden
Syncera IT Solutions
Postbus 270
2600 AG  DELFT

tel.nr.: 015-7512436
email: BEN at Syncera-ITSolutions.nl
>>> "Fawcett, David" <David.Fawcett at STATE.MN.US> 11/30/05 5:12 PM >>>
Gary, 

Thank you for being open to not using the name MapServer to describe
MapGuide.  For the foundation, may I suggest:

Open Source Web Mapping Foundation?
Web Mapping Foundation?


Peoples Front for the Liberation of Web Mapping Products?

David.

-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU] On
Behalf Of Gary Lang
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:01 AM
To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] MapServer Foundation - Open Letter


OK. So here's a sincere call for input.

Here's the rub. Regardless of who made the mistake of suggesting it, I
liked the name and agreed that we would go with it, so I'll take
responsibility for MSE.

On the back of that, we - what can now be seen as the TSC-x cabal + 1
ADSK person - started drifting from foundation names that had more
umbrella-like characteristics like osgis.org, mapcommunity, maptools,
etc. and towards something that focuses on what we were putting out
together. Based on the fact that both products were named MapServer in
the root, we went with "MapServer Foundation".

Now let's assume we change the name back to MapGuide. Why would I now
want to cripple any hope of adoption by anybody by putting it in a
foundation (that I helped name) that highlights one map serving product
over another? 

So far the community is showing more common sense than we were on this,
so I'm interested to hear your opinions.

Gary

-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU] On
Behalf Of Bill Binko
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 7:44 AM
To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] MapServer Foundation - Open Letter

Hello, everyone

I'm very sorry to be in this situation twice in one month (HylaFAX is 
another project I'm involved in, and recently had a possible-fork/naming

clash), but I thouht I would add one more perspective and perhaps a 
request.

When I first read the announcement about the foundation, I had two
distinct reactions.  First, I sent a note to Frank, who I have found
best represent the "soul" of the OpenGIS community.  I asked him why I
so many people I respected (including danmo, and hobu, among others)
were going along with what looked like a land-grab by a company that has
historically been less-than-friendly to open source and open standards.
(I haven't 
gotten a response, but he's been busy and I feel its appropriate that I 
not wait any longer to put in my two cents.)

My second reaction was empowerment.  You see, I have been ...
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