Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 08:44:30 -0700 From: Donald Wilde <dwilde1@thuntek.net> To: "John S. Dyson" <toor@dyson.iquest.net> Cc: dyson@iquest.net, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Marketing FreeBSD (was:FreeBSD emulation for linux) Message-ID: <36FA59DE.7C9EAA57@thuntek.net> References: <199903251517.KAA06977@dyson.iquest.net>
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John S. Dyson wrote: > > > > > I'll make missteps, too, John, so feel free to criticize. > > > It is *easier* to criticise in hindsight. It is harder to properly > plan ahead. The key to any such adventure is to understand ones > own initial limitations, and not to *excessively* extend oneself. A > careful strategy, with the understanding of where learning is needed > is key. > > Some of the recent technical mistakes have been made because of people not > knowing their limitations, and fear of using existing resources (probably > due to ego problems.) If resources are needed, then grab them!!! FreeBSD > is far beyond where cowboy behavior is acceptable, both in technical and > marketing aspects. Too many people have invested alot into the product for > it to be "frittered" away. The codebase is a legacy, and those who take > responsibility for pieces of it should consider the control of that legacy > as solemn. Hacking should be in the past, and cowboy marketing should also > be taken as a learning experience. > As I said, my perspective is that the entire BSD-licensed codebase (including BSD, Apache, XFree86 and PgSQL and others) is one of the greatest gifts mankind has ever given itself, and I intend to promote it as such. IMO, it is a great benefit that I am on the "outside" of both the Project and WC-CDROM, but Bob is behind this effort with serious intent to make it fly. I do have a tendency to be a cowboy, but between flamewars here and the homebase experience in Concord, I expect to build a steady foundation for a respectable (and principled) marketing and advocacy effort. > The technical base is pretty good (with bugfixes and minor restructuring > initially seriously being needed.) Hacking it should require a deep > understanding, with NO exceptions. I think Jordan will be much more effective in ensuring this as I take more of the -advo and marketing effort over and he feels less need to personally respond to flamewars. I can't imagine the number of e-mails he personally must deal with on a daily basis! > The marketing position is much > weaker (relative to the technical aspects), and that is a major > place for FreeBSD growth. You are on the leading edge in that effort, and > is an ideal place for personal growth also. John, I intend to make this _my_ contribution to the gift. "Those who can't write kernel code, do Marketing and teach!", to modify an old saying as appropriate. I am also looking forward to the challenge and opportunity to be a proud spokesman for what we all believe in in the big bad world of Big Business. Needless to say, I'm also not unaware of the effect my personal visibility as such will have on my opportunities for growth. I spent 14 years in Hollywood attempting to crack that industry (besides coding embedded assembly language). It should stand me well as experience here. > > > > > The support is about to grow. Stay tuned! > > > Again, excellent. NOT ONLY do I wish you and FreeBSD the best, but > have great interest and caring about it. My disappointments have been > a result of experience, and understanding the history of FreeBSD and > many previous projects. History continues to repeat itself, and breaking > that very vicious cycle is the key to FreeBSD's expanding (rather than > contracting.) Learn from previous mistakes (both other projects, and > FreeBSD's own.) > Please correct me when you see me cycling through /dev/null... You will, I'm not perfect. ;-) > I strongly feel that you have a great chance of success. Thanks! I've been told the resources will grow as I learn to make effective use of them. That's a good way to start. > > John -- Donald Wilde "Bringing the Internet to everyone!" Wilde Media 1380 Rio Rancho Blvd. SE #117 voice: 505-771-0709 Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124 e-mail: dwilde1@thuntek.net To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
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