Tuxmagazine: Filling the Void between Free Software and New

[Jza]

I was reading the latest issue of TuxMagazine and the column done by Kevin Shockey where he talks about classifiying the different type of Linux users and the motives to use Linux.

Also he goes ons about the semantics of free software and freedom (libre) vs gratis. And how spanish make more sense to speak than the broken english language

However he brings some important topics such as the barrier of entrance for non developers. We all know that free software is all about the source being open, but really if you can´t understand code, there is really not much you can do. Actually there is but is not practical to an extend.

For example, if users need to learn C++ to modify a KDE app, it becomes way to difficult to make a difference on the behavior of the application for himself.

Somehow even on volunteers that collaborate with documentation or support for users are separated and missconected with the actual develoopers. This brings a good void between non-devleopers but volunteers, end-users, and finally developers.

Yes bugzilla has breach this a bit, but it there is nothing wrong to wonder what else there is to do. maybe talk about social networking could improve the communication, mentoring, and google summer of code might be some efforts in this direction. The interesting thing is if other smaller organizations or even better... individuals take the lead and make efforts to either let users know the people behind the code and bring a more humane way of looking at software.

Wonder what you guys think about.

[Judland]

individuals take the lead and make efforts to either let users know the people behind the code and bring a more humane way of looking at software.

I find it amusing that before Microsoft spawned into existence this was what the computing world was like. There were games and applications had some real heart and soul put in to them. You could sometimes tell who created them just from the way it looked or functioned.

Even as kid, growing up in the sticks of northern Ontario, Canada, I knew who people like David Crane, Jim Butterfield, and Rob Hubbard (to name a few) were.

It's too bad corporations these days don't want to give credit where credit is due.

Of course, come to think of it, I suppose I wouldn't want my name associated with any sort of Microsoft written bloat-ware, either.