[Sussex] Thoughts On Contrubuting to the Community

[Richie Jarvis]

Steve Dobbo Dobson wrote:
> Hi all
>
> Last night there were two lurker views voiced that I think are typical:
> a) I'm not experienced enough, and b) I don't want to appear foolish.
> I can somewhat sympathize with the first, but the second (which came from
> someone with good technical expertise) I do not!
>
> I gave my standard answer last night: that there is always someone who 
> knows less than you, but this afternoon another, more powerful argument,
> has crossed my mind.
>
> Most of the software you use (on Linux) is covered by the GPL which can
> best be summarized as a "share and share alike" license.  As a user of 
> GPLed software you have something to share, your experiences.  So isn't
> your payment to the community, for using GPLed software, to contribute
> your experience back to that community?  I think it is.
>
> After all your experiences do have value, either as something to avoid
> or as something to try.  To someone sitting there and thinking "what
> the hell do I try next" your post/blog entry/whatever might be just the
> thing to help him or her out.
>
> So to all you to spend a moment thinking about two of the questions Nik
> asked last night:
>    1) Why did you switch to Linux?  and
>    2) What is it that you like about Linux now you understand it
>       and the ideals it embodies?
>
> I admit that my answer to (1) is that it came at no cost; it saved me
> money.  But (2) has much more to do with the ethical and moral ideas that 
> come with it.  I like using software that doesn't treat me as a pirate
> just because there are those out there that are.
>
> So, if you're one of those lurkers that always thinks that "there is
> someone better qualified to answer that query" stop thinking that NOW!
> You have an implied duty, under the GPL, a license you've agreed with by
> using the software, to contribute.
>
> I've just checked:  there are 194 e-mail addresses signed up to this
> list.  One of them is the list itself (so it can send out the moot
> reminders before each moot [cron is my friend :-) ]), and I know that
> some people are signed up both at home and work.  So we don't have 
> nearly 200 members, but we must have somewhere in the region of 100.
> That's not bad going!
>
> So here is your homework from me.  You MUST reply to this email saying
> how you contribute, how you pay your dues, for using Linux.  There are 
> no exceptions, no excuses, and a reasonable time limit.  You can take
> until the next moot to answer.  Because I'm sure we'll want to talk more
> about it then.  But answer you should.  That's my EULA on this posting
> and all my future posting too:  To make use of the knowledge that I
> impart you must be a contributer too.
>
> And if you need one more reason to reply how's this?  My rational for 
> requiring you to post is that the first post is often the hardest, but
> with each post it becomes easier.  So maybe by getting more people
> to post I'll this list more active and more interesting.  And you also 
> never know, maybe I'll learn something about how to better post to this
> list.
>
> Steve
>   
Ok Steve, heres my contribution.

I've been using Linux now since about 1996-7 (can't remember exactly) 
when I downloaded Slackware at work on a bunch of floppies, and 
installed it on my 486.  My interest grew over the years, mostly on the 
server side.  In 2000 I started working on Solaris machines in my day 
job, and found that the (limited) knowledge I had gained helped 
immensely with that, and also with the OSS side of Tandems.  That was 
really when I started really learning Unix/Linux big time, and since 
then my work and home life has been dominated with Linux servers.

Usage wise, I've setup, administered and use qmail/squirrelmail, samba, 
nfs, cvs, mythtv, shorewall, twiki, mysql, openvpn and apache at home.  
I also build all my own machines.  At work, my usage on Linux is almost 
as varied - openvpn, samba, cvs, qmail, nfs, jboss, weblogic, oracle, 
postgresql, mysql, twiki.  It not only gives me alot of fun, but has 
also increased my knowledge about systems immensely - it also keeps me 
off the streets at night!

What have I given back, well, I wrote the definitive guide to installing 
and getting working the Hauppage Conexant based DVB-T card back when the 
kernel required patching to support it.  I also occasionally help out at 
the BCF with Nik and Steve.  I also co-foundered and administer 
SussexNetShare, which uses Linux based boxes to share internet 
connections.  As the current solution is (annoyingly) closed source, I 
am also actively working to find a replacement which is fully open 
source, and which I can contribute to in the future.

Cheers,

Richie