[OSGeo-Discuss] Can we use a LiveDVD for workshops and labs at FOSS4G 2009?

[Chris Puttick]

----- "Daniel P. Ames" <amesdani at isu.edu> wrote:
> Hi folks.  As you all know, there is a growing interest in open source
> for Windows. Especially with Microsoft's release of its developer
> tools in free "express" editions and the availability of such tools as
> SharpDevelop and Mono.  
> 
> MapWindow is .NET based and the bulk of our developers and users are
> strictly MS based.  I don't think this makes them any less human, it
> just says that their threshold for open source is set such that a $90
> Windows operating system is considered acceptable but a $10000 GIS is
> not.  

But to split hairs, if MapWindow is .NET based it is not entirely open source as it is dependent on a closed source platform. Now if it also works on Mono (as in developed with that in mind), that's no longer true. Does it? I would also suggest that developing an open source project inside an environment controlled by one of the companies most damaged if the open source development model becomes the norm is inviting failure.

OTOH I would be a supporter of having Windows available on the LiveDVD in VirtualBox, partly for reasons you suggest below and partly so "Linux avoiders" can realise you can also gain from avoiding that $90 tax on your PC. The use of Windows in VirtualBox should be legitimate if the host machines have licences. Legitimate as in defendable at least; not sure how pragmatic Australian courts are on software licencing and some of the more ridiculous terms companies include in them...

NB would require two versions of the DVD as it could not be distributed including the Windows VM. And come to think of it, given Window's special size requirements as an OS, it would probably require a Bluray disc instead of a DVD ;)

Chris

> 
> We had a great turnout at the MapWindow lab and worshop in South
> Africa and got lots of "hey it's great to see .NET open source GIS
> here" comments.  So, call us mudbloods, but it's an approach that we
> see has a huge added value for lots of folks.  Bottom line, if having
> Windows on some lab computers doesn't add a huge expense, then we'd
> hope that Windows based labs and/or workshops would be encouraged.
> 
> Indeed, consider the opportunities for demonstrating QGIS and GRASS
> and others on Windows to help convert Linux avoiders over to OSGeo.
> 
> - Dan
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Patton <davep at confluence.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2008 3:02 PM
> To: OSGeo Discussions <discuss at lists.osgeo.org>
> Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Can we use a LiveDVD for workshops and
> labs at FOSS4G 2009?vel
> 
> On 2008/10/19 1:30 PM, Cameron Shorter wrote:
> > I'm wondering whether it will be achievable and desirable to use a 
> > GeoFOSS LiveDVD as the only installed operating system at workshops
> > and labs at FOSS4G 2009.
> 
> > So my questions to communities are:
> > 
> > Do you and your project think you would commit to packaging your
> > project into a debian based LiveDVD before FOSS4G in October 2009?
> > 
> > For presenters, would you want to add tutorial material to the
> > LiveDVD, which would mean using an Open licence like Creative
> > Commons?
> 
> I would start by asking a different question - does anyone
> foresee any issue with not having MS Windows available as
> an option for Workshops/Labs for FOSS4G 2009?
> 
> We might not want to restrict the discussion to "OSGeo projects".
> What if a Sponsor, or Exhibitor, or 'some software company', or
> 'some non-OSGeo project' submitted a proposal to deliver a
> Workshop/Lab, and it merited consideration for inclusion in the
> conference, but it required MS Windows?
> 
> Were there Workshops/Labs at FOSS4G 2008 that could not have
> been delivered without having MS Windows?
> 
> If we assume that there was 'some need' for MS Windows for
> FOSS4G 2009, but that it wasn't needed for "all the PCs",
> how would people react to Workshops/Labs that required
> MS Windows also requiring a higher registration fee?
> (i.e. higher by the incremental cost of the license to
> use MS Windows on the PC for the Workshop/Lab)
> 
> 
> P.S.
> It helps if everyone uses the term "Instructors" when
> referring to Workshops/Labs, because "Presenter" makes
> people think of "Presentations", and sometimes that
> causes confusion.
> 
> -- 
> Dave Patton
> CIS Canadian Information Systems
> Victoria, B.C.
> 
> Degree Confluence Project:
> Canadian Coordinator
> Technical Coordinator
> http://www.confluence.org/
> 
> OSGeo FOSS4G2007 conference:
> Workshop Committee Chair
> Conference Committee member
> http://www.foss4g2007.org/
> 
> Personal website:
> Maps, GPS, etc.
> http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/
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