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Subject:RE: Writing for the Open Source Community From:"Spreadbury, David C." <David -dot- Spreadbury -at- marconi -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 19 Feb 2003 14:52:55 -0500
If for nothing more than the experience, it would be a worthwhile task. I
can just imagine creating an EDD, tweaking it, finalizing it. Then if it
works and you get some of that direct feedback, missing with a lot of paying
jobs. On top of that, possible leads for real paying jobs if the work was
successful. There is also the other side of the coin. If the work wasn't
successful, your name wouldn't get passed along when a real job opens up.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Byfield [mailto:bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 1:37 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Cc: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Writing for the Open Source Community
eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com wrote:
>
>Call me thick, but besides creating portfolio pieces, why bother looking
into
>open source as a writer? Sure there are hundreds of poorly documented
>open-source projects out there, but I for one would like to get paid for my
time
>and energy. Good Karma is NOT going to pay the mortgage.
>
>
If you want a practical reason, how about gaining some experience and
some samples? If you want a personal reason, how about writng material
that you can get immediate and direct feedback from, and become widely
known for? If you want social reasons, how about doing some charity work?
>Is there a market of people willing to pay for good documentation for open
>source software? Or, is it much like the open source movement as a whole?
It's
>great to have 'free' and 'open' software, but there has to be a pocket book
>paying for it somewhere.
>
There are companies with open source business models. But you're wrong
about "a pocket book paying for it somewhere." The fact goes against
everything you learn in business administration classes, but, all the
same, there are thousands of people willing to be involved in the Open
Source movement for the reasons I suggested.
And if anyone doesn't believe that, all I can do is quote Galileo's
alleged recantation of his recantation: "Nonetheless, it moves."
"Take six politicians to dig me a grave,
Take six intellectuals my soul for to save,
And six union workers, a red flag to wave
And one stupid singer to rant and to rave."
- The Men They Couldn't Hang, "Industrial Town"
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