Of course I try to be first to pre-order my CD setS but the orders
always open when I'm asleep. I am going to keep trying, even after I
achieve it!
Good pitch, Nick. I'd love to see it on a wider screen somewhere.
Rod/
On Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:54:12 -0400, Nick Holland wrote:
>What makes OpenBSD unique? Everyone's got their own list, but here's
>mine:
>
>* Good work is unacceptable, great work is expected.
>* Quality is the #1 goal, it takes a back seat to NOTHING else.
>* Freedom for the users to use OpenBSD without question and without
> lawyers having to be involved, again without compromise.
>* Strong leadership. Not a "core team", or an elected committee
> that blows in the wind of public opinion, but one person who
> sets direction and policy for the project. You may not always
> agree with Theo, but you never wonder where he stands on an
> issue, or what direction the project will go.
>* Commitment to doing it right in one way, not twenty different
> ways ("pick one, maybe you get lucky").
>* Refusal to accept the damned "all programs have bugs" chant as
> an excuse for making crap
>* No fear of retaining things that work, and trashing things
> that are broke or inferior to newer (or older!) alternatives.
>* The "Just Works" philosophy.
>
>But...a project like OpenBSD doesn't just run on volunteer effort,
>it takes real money. Hardware, infrastructure, Internet services,
>and if you are going to have ONE PERSON in charge, you need to
>keep them focused on the project, not "in their spare time", and
>give them the money to live in reasonable comfort.
>
>I just had a talk with Theo, and he shared some numbers with me.
>There's a digit missing from the current CD pre-orders from where
>we were hoping to be now. There's a trailing zero missing from
>what we'd really like to have.
>
>Long ago, while waiting for customers to hand me money, my first
>boss told me, "The hardest thing to do, but the most important,
>is to ask for the sale". I've never been very good at that, but
>here it is...
>
>People, it is time to get your browsers over to
> http://www.openbsd.org/orders.html
>and start running some money into the project.
>
>Do you use OpenBSD for fun? Contribute.
>Do you use OpenBSD for work? Contribute.
>Does OpenBSD allow you to worry about the problem you are trying
>to solve rather rather than the tools? Contribute.
>Do you wish your employer used the OpenBSD quality standard in
>your work? Contribute.
>Does your employer use OpenBSD? Ask them to contribute (after
>you do, of course).
>Do you bundle OpenBSD or subprojects like OpenSSH into your
>product? Contribute big! (you won't, you rarely do, but hey,
>I'll ask anyway)
>Do you find yourself wondering why so few take computer software
>quality seriously? Contribute!
>
>CDs are our favorite way to get contributions. The price is well
>within what the average person can easily pay for, they are a lot
>more educational than a month of cable TV (and maybe even more fun).
>Sure, the CD itself is not something everyone needs anymore, but
>it is about much more than the data recorded on it. It is the mark
>of being an active OpenBSD supporter, and it provides a nice, neat
>count of "this many people care".
>
>Don't get me wrong, Theo likes big cash contributions, too, but
>(ok, my life flashes before my eyes every time I try to put words
>in Theo's mouth) while a $10000 donation from BIGCORP Inc., is
>nice, it is probably more satisfying to see two hundred $50
>contributions from private people and small businesses who
>appreciate and put a value not only the work OpenBSD does, but
>the KIND of work, the "Quality and Freedom Second to NOTHING"
>philosophy. Don't wait and hope for a big company to speak for
>you, speak your thanks directly for the work and effort that
>goes into OpenBSD by buying a CD set.
>
>
>I'm going to answer a question that comes up periodically: "What
>about T-shirts and mugs and ...?" Well, those are profit points,
>too, but CDs are dirt cheap to make, they store easily, and one
>size fits all. T-shirts have a higher manufacturing cost, take
>up more space, and must be stocked in multiple sizes, all of which
>must be kept accessible. Certainly, buy a t-shirt, buy a mug,
>poster, whatever..but buy a CD set, too.
>
>
>Thanks to those that contribute money and buy CDs.
>Thanks to the OpenBSD team, I can't tell you what an honor
>it is to work (in my small way) with some of the worlds best
>programmers and software DESIGNERS.
>Thanks to Theo de Raadt for the years of showing that it IS
>possible to hold one's ideals up high and proud, never
>compromise them, and never give in, in spite of the pressures
>from those that will trade their ideals for a little temporary
>"expediency".
>
>And thanks to you for reading my rant.
>
>Nick.
>
*** NOTE *** Please DO NOT CC me. I <am> subscribed to the list.
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Rod/
---
This life is not the real thing.
It is not even in Beta.
If it was, then OpenBSD would already have a man page for it.
