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
