[ISC2006] Re: Conference in Lausanne, Sponsorship, etc.

[Arnulf Christl]

Claude Philipona wrote:
> 
> 
> Arnulf Christl wrote:
> 
>> Claude Philipona wrote:
>>
>>>> I'm not sure why or where you see a loss of confidence in
>>>> MapServer.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thats what I said at the beginning of Chicago's meeting: After all
>>> the discussions that followed the nov 28 announcement and the mess
>>> with the names etc, some commercial software editors used all this
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Claude, you probably refer to "proprietary software businesses".
>> Sorry to be ... ... Sorry to interrupt again - I really do not want
>> to be a pain, but this again should better read "proprietary"
>> solutions. Autodesk has a
> 
> yes, "proprietary" is certainly a more appropriate word.
> 
>> This is also my opinion, but I think it is not really a big problem
>> if gov't institutions substitue MapServer by GeoServer in their
>> thinking as they are both Open Source. In the end it will be you (as
>> a company) doing the consultation, installation and maintenance of
>> the respective solutions. If you favor MapServer for the hardcore
>> stuff (indestructible engine) and use GeoServer for dodgy WFS-T stuff
>> so much the better (again my pov). Any of these options should
>> strengthen faith in Open Source technology.
> 
> I agree, the problem is that decision are made not on a technical level, 
> but on an emotionnal level based on wrong informations.
> 
>> We got the message and will react as soon as possible. You could help
>> by making final adjustments to the Proposed Press Releases. Check the
>>  different language versions here:
>>
>> http://www.fossgis.de/osgeo/index.php/Special:Search?search=Press+Release&fulltext=Search 
>>
>>
>>
>> Please observe that the web page: 
>> http://www.fossgis.de/osgeo/index.php/Proposed_Press_Release is the
>> general template that has experienced a few changes by Adsk press 
>> professionals (something like that).
> 
> Nice to see that something is going on about press relaease. I will
> discuss it with our staff in France.
> 
> my first impression is that it is a good press release about osgeo, but
> it will not help to clear thnigs out about Mapserverr, it could even get
> worse (considering the situation in France). Here are the reaction we
> will probably get, if people read only the press release without going
> thru the website:
> - oh look they rename the MapServer Foundation supposed to host
> Mapserver and Mapguide Open source to OSGEO.
> - And you know what, MapServer doesn't know yet if they want to join,
> instead there are a bunch of other project... Strange MapServer is not
> in it was at first made for MapServer
> - yes I don't know whats going on there, there is quite som uncertainity...

If this is what you can read from what has been done so far it is severe 
and needs to be addressed immediately! I hope that you can give some 
more input.

> I think this sentence is hot very appropriate: "Several other projects
> such as MapServer and GeoTools are currently discussing within their
> communities whether to join.", considering that Mapserver is already on
> the project list on the website. This is too ambiguous.

This has already been discussed and should be changed any time soon - 
just waiting for the changes to go public.

Best regards,
Arnulf

> The Press release should make very clear that mapserver is joining the
> foundation and the future of this project is even strengthned by joining
> the foundation.
> 
> I will give more feedback later.
> 
> Claude