[Qgis-psc] OSX 2.16 versions

[Larry Shaffer]

Hi Tim,

On Wed, Jul 27, 2016 at 2:12 PM, Tim Sutton <tim at qgis.org> wrote:

> Hi Larry
>
> On 27 Jul 2016, at 7:44 PM, Larry Shaffer <larrys at dakotacarto.com> wrote:
>
>
> Of note, I am getting paid at work to accomplish a variant of OSGeo4Mac
> (and actually a GUI variant of OSGeo4W) for the Boundless Desktop install.
> I would *very* much prefer to have this work contributed back upstream to
> the OSGeo/QGIS communities. Towards that end, if either the OSGeo or QGIS
> project were to finance the core part of that work, via my employer (like
> paid bug fixing arrangements in the past), I think this would be a good
> assurance that the code start/remain in the public domain.
>
>
> Just flipping your proposal around, how about asking your employer to fund
> your time for community OSGEO packaging on a sustained basis? I reckon it
> is a pretty good 'in-kind' contribution back to the upstream projects they
> take benefit from?
>

Understanding that contributing this installer and maintenance work will
allow for additional community contributions to increase
stability/compatibility and that the Boundless installer workflow will more
closely parallel what is officially available through community channels
are possibly persuasive talking points to convince Boundless to fund this.

Also, Boundless definitely benefits from the OSGeo4W distribution, a
similar OS X in-kind contribution does seem appropriate.


> I don't have a problem with QGIS funding people to do stuff, but I am
> weary of setting a precedent where QGIS **has** to fund people on an
> ongoing basis or key parts of the project break. We don't have the
> financial resources to sustain that. If there is a short, sharp once off
> thing you would like to work on in order to get us over some packaging
> hurdle its certainly something we can entertain funding it (and same
> applies to William) - look out for the upcoming grant programme call.
>

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply anything ongoing. Just the initial work to
set up the installer, then it would be publicly available and out of the
Boundless purview. I agree the QGIS project should not be financially tied
to anyone for any critical functionality.

Conversely, the project does have to rely upon volunteers to produce
packages/installers for users, and provide ongoing support for those
packages. Agreed that the grant program may help here. However, considering
packaging is an ongoing necessity — indeed many aspects of the project can
now be viewed in this manner — it seems odd that maintainers would need to
continually apply for a grant every release. Although... that may be best,
e.g. case-by-case, much like the paid bug-fixing approach. (OK, just
convinced myself of the latter :^)


> If you think it would be OK for me to write to your bosses asking them to
> support QGIS by giving you the space needed to make packages I'd be happy
> to do that too.
>

I believe they are following this conversation already; but, yes, that
would help establish what arrangement you feel is mutually beneficial or a
reasonable contribution on their part.

Thanks,

Larry Shaffer
Dakota Cartography
Black Hills, South Dakota

Boundless Desktop and QGIS Support/Development
Boundless Spatial
lshaffer at boundlessgeo.com


> Regards
>
> Tim
>
>
>
>
>
> ---
>
> *Tim Sutton*
> QGIS Project Steering Committee Chair
> tim at qgis.org
>
>
>
>
>
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