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| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
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| Mailing List Archives |
| Subject: | [gislist] Benfits of Open Source For Development Communities |
| Date: |
01/21/2005 02:35:01 PM |
| From: |
Landon Blake |
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I agree with Ned and Ivan, and I would like to take this opportunity to =
tactfully point out some other benefits to open source software other =
than just the cost.
(1) I have personally found most successful open source projects =
surrounded by very supportive user/developer communities. These =
communities provide an excellent arena for positive discussion and =
education.
(2) The software is in most cases revised and improved by the members of =
this community, members who are actively using the software for their =
every day needs. This eliminates the problem of an corporate oversight =
of a software project. Oversight that is often out of touch with the =
user community.
(3) The majority of open source development is performed by volunteers =
like myself. I would like to avoid stereotyping, but I think I can =
safely say that the majority of these volunteer developers are motivated =
by more than a desire to meet there own software needs. They are also =
motivated by a need to help others and to benefit the community. That is =
a very powerful force.=20
I believe these volunteers enable development that might not otherwise =
take place because it is not, for one reason or another, a profitable =
venture.
In summary, it is the community, or the people, that make open source =
software powerful, not just the software itself.
I think the open source GIS community is especially vibrant and healthy, =
for which it should be commended. It is my hope that the Land Surveying =
community will soon follow. I will do my part to help it get there.
Landon Blake
P.S. - If internet access is an issue, support could be arranged over =
the telephone or mail if need be. Unless these services are also not =
reliable, in which case communication of any type would be difficult.
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