[thelist] open source development network

Daniel J. Cody djc at five2one.org
Mon Aug 21 23:46:04 CDT 2000


Isaac Forman wrote:
> 
> why would we join up?
> 
> i've just visited the site. it's a page (with 3 ads) that just shows me
> headlines (about a page down the site too) from their preferred sites (including
> themes.org with headlines like "Artwiz Draws Caricatures" ??).

'artwiz' in this case was a handle for a person(Youngjin Hahn in this
case, who has done some cool shit, just like .djc., .jeff, or iSac).

> they're trying to increase readership of their other sites, providing a central
> point from where everyone can access this information (and conveniently see all
> their banner ads on the way...).

I don't know if they're trying to increase readership. Most everyone
that would use osdn is already aware of the sites its partnered with. I
doubt they're trying to pimp slashdot, freshmeat, or geocrawler for more
hits/users/page views. Those sites get an amazing amount of traffic the
way it is. They're trying to make a site (for people like myself and
others) for a quick 'one-stop-look' at the sites that audience likes. 

> evolt.org is not about developing "open source software" (from the site:
> "providing the Open Source Community with the online tools needed to develop,

also from the 'about' page:

"The Open Source Development Network [OSDN] brings many of the Open
Source community's favorite gathering places together and makes it
easier tomove between  them. SourceForge, freshmeat, Linux.com,
Themes.org, Slashdot, and our other Web sites will stay as independent
as ever, but now  you'll be able to access all of them -- and other
useful Open Source sites -- from a central entry point: OSDN.com"

Note the independent line..

> distribute, and discuss Open Source Software.") - we're about helping web
> developers wherever they might be working, and whatever they might be working
> on. i don't think that we're here to take sides on the open/closed source
> debate, or push our community into using specific software.

You're 100% right. While we're about helping web developers and what
they're(we're) working on - osdn is similar in that they're also helping
devlopers(although not web at the time) with what they're working on.
Its *not* just open source software. Its the ideas and actions that
embody(sp?) the open source train of thought. Whether its C, Java, or
Web technologies, we're all helping collegues with our respective
disciplins(god i'm a bad speller)
 
> our site is developed by the community. the source of what we build is available
> for everyone to learn new techniques, and even build other communities. but
> we're not about open source. regardless of source availability, we're about
> helping developers service their audience.

Don't think of open source as 'free shit'. The true open source
manifesto is *exactly* what we're about. Sharing, helping, and
advocating what we do *without* thought of material gain.

The term open source doesn't just apply to linux anymore. Its a way of
thinking, in much the way that we all think and do here. A good example
is the dmoz.org project. They aggregate content for the good of others.
Thats what the open source philosohpy embodies when you get down to it.
 
> we're evolt.org, not a subset, nor a part, of a banner-toting "vortal".

We have our banners on firmlist.com - whats the difference? We are also
talking about having 'evolt-boxes' which would be content from other
sites on the evolt site. Are we expecting to have other sites question
us, like we are osdn, about whether or not they should have their conent
on our site?
 
> also, i'd rather increase membership (if that's what you're after) by increasing

No.

> awareness of evolt within web agencies worldwide, rather than aligning with an
> open source network and a community, elements of which constantly torture
> slashdot forums with bullshit and misinformation.

I'm not saying this is a way to increase traffic. I've never advocated
us whoring ourselves to get traffic to evolt.org. What would be the
point after all? To turn non-existant banner ads? 

Rather, I'm just thinking of OSDN as another way to get evolt out to
people that otherwise might not have had a chance to know what we're
about - or, and most importantly - to learn and contribute with/back to
the evolt community.
 
> some members of evolt.org have griped about the lack of design-related threads.
> they're right, and there are alot of backend threads which are too advanced for
> many readers. talking to agencies and getting more designers and frontend people
> on board in the process could do a good job of balancing thelist.

True, true.(whazzzzzzzzup!! hehe) Talking to agencies is a *great* idea.
I'm working with my local library here in Oshkosh to have beginners type
web classes. Its not that I'm doing it *for* evolt, rather, as a member
of evolt this is something I find brings my involvement in sharing and
helping to another level. I would encourage anyone and everyone to do
something similar. Don't do it for evolt though, do it because you want
to help out.

Thats all I'm really trying to get across here.. I think it would be
good if we could help other web developers, that might not otherwise be
intoduced to us, out in the world of web development.

> let me know what you think,

Naturally. :)

Sorry for the long-winded reply, just want to clear some things up.

And get a conversation going. <i>Zooooooooooooom!!</i>

.djc.





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