Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:51:55 +0100 From: Frank Shute <frank@shute.org.uk> To: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> Cc: FreeBSD <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Lennart Poettering: BSD Isn't Relevant Anymore Message-ID: <20110718145155.GA77041@orange.esperance-linux.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <20110718134903.993b87f5.freebsd@edvax.de> References: <20110717071059.25971662@scorpio> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1107170928360.56712@Elmer.dco.penx.com> <CAKYr3zx3C5kwUaZQ82=d8U=uCRusoNHc4qbb0w-8BNB2X2Xu9Q@mail.gmail.com> <CA%2BtpaK2-t2Y5NN%2B1XFa8aJbw%2BbfvEAeP4-iD5_iLthqaohydNw@mail.gmail.com> <CAKYr3zweDWHCT9ir4uqq%2BjPUZaHZE%2BNdgUuu_vvbcOy65XDvBA@mail.gmail.com> <CA%2BtpaK3w7ZTpSJgsqkz%2BoBwbvm6J6vi4TyFBSqMxB5gDbsH9oA@mail.gmail.com> <4E23F31C.3010803@pathscale.com> <20110718073000.29e89590@scorpio> <20110718134903.993b87f5.freebsd@edvax.de>
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--OgqxwSJOaUobr8KG Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 01:49:03PM +0200, Polytropon wrote: > > On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:30:00 -0400, Jerry wrote: > > I suggested several years ago, and I will re-suggest that FreeBSD start > > a program that would allow programmers to be paid to write code that > > either the regular contributors do not want to write or are not capable > > of writing. Other OS's are currently working on that model. No one > > would be forced to contribute. This would prove beneficial to everyone > > and should satisfy both capitalist who don't mind paying for quality > > products and socialist like Poly who want everything for nothing. It > > would be a win-win situation. >=20 > Erm... you're invited to prove the "everything for nothing" > as well as the "socialist" claim. I'm old enough not to > take this insult personally, but still (for maintaining > discussion culture) please back up your statement, or it > will simply classify you as impolite and stupid. >=20 > Besides that nonsense, I agree with your statement. With > support (usually by money) and help of manufacturers that > are interested in bringing their hardware to a better > support situation by providing information and documentation > so developers could write drivers for many platforms, it > would be a win-win situation. It would even be better than > cost-intensive reverse engineering - means: better drivers > in less time, so FreeBSD could be used on most modern > hardware. The more standards are used, the less work is > needed to bring the new hardware up. (Just imagine you > would need a driver for a hard disk...) >=20 > Personally, this is no issue for me as I don't own such > things, but because you claim that I "want everything for > nothing"... :-) Keep in mind that I've also spent money > on software, but on one that WORKS. >=20 > Maybe this could even affect the whole *BSD family, so > by the availability of more drivers, more desktop share > could be gained, which seems to be the measurement of > OS quality today. >=20 >=20 >=20 > > With the advent of the next version of FBSD soon to be upon us, > > this would be a propitious moment to start such a project. FBSD has > > never been considered a dreadnought in the driver development field and > > this might work to change that. >=20 > The idea seems to have lots of potential. With paid > developers who are willing to license their work as > BSDL code, it could really improve the "out of the box > support" of the system. >=20 > On the other hand - as you mentioned -, it may be > the lack of support of the community, but THAT is > the main force behind FreeBSD. Other operating systems > have big companies behind them who are able and willing > to spend money on "prestige projects", as well as their > everyday work because they need to make their living from > it - or gain world domination. :-) >=20 > The more the FreeBSD community depends on having certain > hardware working, the more support I see for developers. > But as the community seems to be spread across all the > many forms of OS use (mostly servers, but also stationary > workstations, just a minority seems to be using mobile > devices), I'm not sure it will be sufficient. It's not > that FreeBSD is a "desktop-only OS" which can invest all > its energy in getting commodity hardware working, while > leaving quality aside on other fields. Poorly implemented > features, broken code, messing around with quirks and > short-time solutions do not seem to be very welcome among > FreeBSD users. >=20 I like Jerry's proposal. The FreeBSD Foundation should organise their donations page so that you can donate to various different areas of development like TUG do: https://www.tug.org/donate.html It should be at least split into server, workstation and general development. I donate to both FreeBSD and TUG but I far prefer the TUG model. When I donate to the Foundation, I know a lot of my money is going to esoteric server development which doesn't benefit me much but benefits large corporations who can afford to fund their own development to scratch *their own* itches. I want mine scratched! Regards, --=20 Frank Contact info: http://www.shute.org.uk/misc/contact.html --OgqxwSJOaUobr8KG Content-Type: application/pgp-signature Content-Disposition: inline -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.16 (FreeBSD) iEYEARECAAYFAk4kSIoACgkQHduKvUAgeK5utwCgls6Gu4t3v7oweAcEU7pMKHig P1UAn1lB1EIcsENOaxN0np5/8kFK8rbL =bwNP -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --OgqxwSJOaUobr8KG--
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