[OSGeo-Discuss] Usage of 'FOSS4G' in webpages?

[Just van den Broecke]

Yes, IMO we need a term for the specific subdomain of FOSS we are all 
involved in. I started using "FOSS4G" in presentations and with 
customers lately as I understood (after consulting, I think with Arnulf) 
that would cover it. The term "GFOSS" I see used sparingly (and there is 
also a "GFOSS Conference" 
http://antonakoglou.com/2010/05/16/gfoss-conference-2010).

I really would like to see a single acronym (so my family & friends can 
Google on what I am working in :-)). FOSS4G/GFOSS/GeoFOSS/GOSS are 
candidates. Something with "GIS" (have seen OSGIS, FOSSGIS, OpenGIS) 
seems to be indicating "privative" (closed) software but is understood 
by a wider audience. (As is Open Source over FOSS but that was already a 
heated debate..).

Suggestion: have a poll and settle on an acronym and spread it ?

best,

--Just

Just van den Broecke
www.justobjects.nl


On 15-10-10 12:14, Andy Turner wrote:
> There is use of a the term Geospatial Free and Open Source Software (GFOSS):
> http://www.osgeo.org/node/778
>
> Andy
> http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/people/a.turner/
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Cameron Shorter
> Sent: 15 October 2010 11:10
> Cc: OSGeo Discussions
> Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Usage of 'FOSS4G' in webpages?
>
>    Yes, I agree with Chris.
> And "OSGeo Software" is also a loaded, but ambiguous term - probably
> meaning Software which has been incubated in OSGeo, but sometimes also
> meaning any Open Source GeoSpatial Software.
>
> I'm afraid the best term I've been able to use is "GeoSpatial Open
> Source Software" or "GeoSpatial Open Source Applications". Pity it takes
> so many words to say it.
>
> On 15/10/2010 10:24 AM, Christopher Schmidt wrote:
>> On Fri, Oct 15, 2010 at 10:19:33AM +1100, Simon Cropper wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Can someone please explain if the FOSS4G acronym can be used to identify 'free
>>> and open source geographical information systems/tools used to view, edit,
>>> manipulate and map geospatial data' and whether I can use it to help
>>> define/name some educational material I am creating?
>>>
>>> Something along the line of 'FOSS4G Handbook' or 'FOSS4G Guide'; or is the
>>> FOSS4G acronym now to intrinsically linked to OSGeo?
>> Socially speaking, I think that to anyone in the OSGeo community, it's
>> not only linked to "OSGeo", but actually to the conference itself;
>> a "FOSS4G Guide" would be a conference guide to me, not a software
>> guide.
>>
>> I don't have technical information on trademark, etc. but I think that
>> it is really unlikely that using the term "FOSS4G" in the OSGeo space
>> would have the effect you're hoping for.
>>
>> Regards,
>
>