[OSGeo-Discuss] Return on Equity

[Landon Blake]

Frank wrote: " I'm not worried so much about OSGeo as an organization
that matters to the general public.  I'd be pleased to see it matter to
developers and users of open source geospatial software (and helping to
grow that pool)."

Perhaps it is best to start with modest goals and the goal you describe
above is a modest AND logical.

I just think that open source GIS software opens up the door for GIS to
be used in a lot of other places that are now prevented from doing so
because of price. For example, I volunteer with a non-profit
organization that assists the United States Forest Service with care of
the Mokelumne Wilderness. That type of group could never afford a
big-brand GIS program. But I am going to try to use OpenJUMP to support
their efforts. The same applies to developing countries, which has been
discussed on this list previously.

That is were the real beauty of the open source "gem" shines. Putting a
tool into the hands of people so that they can accomplish a greater
good. Open source software development is all about circumventing the
unbalanced desire for profit and the secrecy that results to accomplish
a greater good. It seems like a natural fit to me.

But I'm getting totally sidetracked. I apologize for that. My original
point was that I'm involved in OSGeo as much for the people as I am for
the benefits to my open source software project. The people are part of
my "return on equity".

Landon (A.K.A. - The Sunburned Surveyor)


-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Frank Warmerdam
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 12:13 PM
To: OSGeo Discussions
Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Return on Equity

Landon Blake wrote:
> Promotion and support of open source software is an important part of
> what we do at the OSGeo. But if you really want to make OSGeo an
> organization that matters to the general public you have to see it as
an
> organization that promotes the use of open source GIS to solve the
> bigger challenges listed above. My "return on equity" from the OSGeo
is
> the opportunity to do some of those things. I don't want to just write
> great open source software, I want to do great things with the
software
> I write. I think the OSGeo can provide me the opportunity to do that.

Landon,

I think this is an interesting point.  A part of why I write open source
software is that I want my software to be used, and in particular I want
my software to enable things of social value that might not otherwise
have happened.

If there are people willing to help make it happen, I'd like to see
OSGeo
support socially relavent organizations in use of open source software.

I'm not so such I worry about OSGeo an organization that matters to the
general public.  I'd be pleased to see it matter to developers and users
of open source geospatial software (and helping to grow that pool).

Best regards,
-- 
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------
------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam,
warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush    | President OSGeo,
http://osgeo.org

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