Paul, On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 12:08 PM, Paul Flint <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Dear Rene, > > I really appreciate your point about the differences and distinctions > between the groups. I would say that there are some common areas. > > On Mon, 20 Oct 2008, Rene Churchill wrote: > > Um, no. VtSDA is about the _business_ of software development, >> not the methods of software development. They don't care what >> language it's developed in. >> >> Language is a tricky term to use here. > > Having been a member and gone to a bunch of meetings, the >> discussions are about finding funding/grants, hiring/keeping >> employees, contract negotiations, market size, etc. >> >> But also about development of products. They also have a distinct bias > towards "Commercial" e.g. Monopoly products. Sad but true. Free/open source software is about *freedom* - it has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not this software is commercialized. Making money and free/open source software are not inherently in opposition. There are many business models (existing and emerging) for free/open source software. I have seen nothing in vtSDA's mission that is opposition to these business models. Sure, it's doubtful that many of the members are, in fact, focused on using and/or creating free/open source software but this isn't because "commercial" and "freedom" are inherently in opposition. Bashing commercial software developers is counter-productive. Your efforts would be better focused on enlightening these business on how free/open source software is beneficial to them. In fact, VAGUE could be a major influence in these efforts. Thanks, Bradley > > > It's entirely appropriate for the State to fund VtSDA with some >> limited funds as it's an organization trying to increase the >> number of businesses that make their money by selling/making >> software. >> >> More about selling. Can the development of Open Source software become a > cottage industry in Vermont with a state sanctioned closed source monopoly > product orientation that extends into state sponsored trade associations? > > Software companies pay fairly well and bring money in from out of state >> instead of just churning the funds that are already here. Assuming that the >> VtSDA is successful, then the state will get their grant money back via an >> increased tax base. >> >> > This begs the question of comparison with the VAGUE mission, but your > thoughts and observations are excellent and well reasoned. > > Thank you and... > > Kindest Regards, > > Flint > > /************************************ > Based upon email reliability concerns, > please send an acknowledgment in response to this note. > > Paul Flint > Barre Open Systems Institute > 17 Averill Street > Barre, VT > 05641 > > http://www.bosivt.org > http://www.flint.com/home > skype: flintinfotech > Work: (202) 537-0480 > Fax: (703) 852-7089 > > Consilium > gratuitum .~. > valet /V\ > quanti /( )\ > numerantur ^^-^^ > -- http://bradley-holt.blogspot.com/
