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| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
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| Mailing List Archives |
| Subject: | RE: [gislist] Benfits of Open Source For Development Communities |
| Date: |
01/21/2005 03:30:02 PM |
| From: |
Tito Vandermeyden |
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I think everyone had some good points contributing to this discussion
and its more than interesting to see all the possibilities in our GIS
world. However, one thing I'm missing is: What do THEY need? Before
implementing any GIS system I would first assess the need of the
community you are trying to help. I've worked in too many projects
before, in different parts of the world where bright and certainly
motivated GIS people are trying to help without actually knowing whom
they are helping and why. It's nice to have an ArcInfo license with all
the bells and whistles, but whom does it help when it was not used
anymore after the project manager left for sunny California.
Furthermore, why create a whole new GIS system when something can be
acquired 'out of the box' so that no time is wasted on developing
software. People can use it immediately, and everyone involved in the
project can focus on the data collection and processing. GIS is a great
tool to make people aware of every aspect of their lives, and living in
an exotic place can be very enticing, but don't forget if they don't
feel it's really helping them what did you accomplish?
Tito Vandermeyden
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Tito Vandermeyden
GIS Engineer
Nextbus Information Systems
1321 67th St
Emeryville, CA 94608
email: tvandermeyden@nextbus.com
www.nextbus.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com
[mailto:gislist-bounces@lists.geocomm.com] On Behalf Of Landon Blake
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 12:33 PM
To: gislist@lists.geocomm.com
Subject: [gislist] Benfits of Open Source For Development Communities
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.
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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