Hi Paul,
I echo Bruce's sentiment, in that I suspect the you might be asking the
wrong questions about the value of Open Sourcing.
Should you Open Source your code?
* Making code available to the Open Source community will always be
welcomed.
* However, handing the code over to OSGeo (or any other volunteer
community) and expecting the community to maintain the code is most
likely going to result in the codebase being ignored and forgotten.
* If you wish to make sure the code continues to be maintained and
improved, then you would be best to identify a business model for
maintaining the code. This usually involves identifying sponsors -
organisations who want what you have, and are prepared to pay developers
to nurture and improve the code.
* One business model which sometimes works is for the originating
organisation to Open Source their code, make sure the code is generic
enough for other organisations to use, MARKET the codebase to attract
users, sponsors and maintainers. Once other developers are helping
maintain your codebase, you will reap the benefit of reduced maintenance
costs. You will also avoid having to end-of-life your product in 10
years time, when you are forced to migrate to another more successful
Open Source product.
* I suggest you look at OSGeo's requirements for project incubation,
which identifies core factors for successful Open Source projects. Note
also that giving your project to OSGeo would involve taking the project
through this incubation process, and working out the funding model to do so:
http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/project_graduation_checklist.html
On 08/02/14 00:46, Breimyer, Paul - 0442 - MITLL wrote:
Bruce,
Fair question, and at this point, I'm not sure. I don't represent DHS
S&T, but I'm trying to see if there's interest from OSGeo to explore a
tech transfer of the project to OSGeo. Basically, the work has
largely been done and I'm trying to determine if the broader community
could benefit from it. Given the feedback I've heard so far, I think
it could be valuable to have a dialog with DHS S&T and an OSGeo
representative to talk about what the transfer model might be (e.g.,
the approaches you described), but I'm not sure who would be the
appropriate OSGeo contact.
Thanks,
Paul
--------------------------------------------------
Paul Breimyer, Ph.D.
Technical Staff, Surveillance Systems
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
(781) 981-0923 (work)
(781) 879-8675 (cell)
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*From:*Bruce Bannerman [mailto:[email protected]]
*Sent:* Thursday, February 06, 2014 5:47 PM
*To:* Breimyer, Paul - 0442 - MITLL; [email protected]
*Subject:* Fwd: FW: [OSGeo-Discuss] Possible CS-W Portal Opportunity
Paul,
I noted your last paragraph below, which does ring alarm bells for me.
What is the intent of this approach? Is it:
* To potentially launch a piece of software as an open source
project that DHS S&T will sponsor and support through the
incubation process until the project becomes self sustaining; or
* To declare some software that DHS S&T has developed as open source
with a view for OSGeo, or some other party, to pick it up, sponsor
and support it through the incubation process, with DHS S&T hoping
to get the software maintained by others with little or no
involvement by DHS S&T.
I'm unclear of the intent behind the approach from your email.
I suspect that you would receive a more favourable response if it was
the first option above. You may even find that an existing project
that works in this space may pick up the software if it is appropriate
for their long term road map.
Bruce
*Subject: *Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Possible CS-W Portal Opportunity
<snip>
There may be an opportunity to completely open source the system,
which would require some additional development to fully support
the CS-W interface. Based upon the responses I've received so far
(thanks again), it seems like there may be some interest, but I
think DHS S&T may need a stronger expression of interest from
OSGeo to move forward. If there's interest, I could try to
schedule a webex meeting to show the system.
</snip>
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