Re: [gentoo-user] Re: A New Linux Way

[Justin Hart]

While I appreciate a good pitch, I actually think that what awakened
the list so mightily is that someone brazenly posted to a Linux user
list with a business pitch with no business plan attached.

I think that most people who've had at least a brush with professional
software engineering read such a statement as if it were steel wool
scraping their eyeballs.  If they've encountered such a business
situation, they know, it's not so much that it's a scam, it's that
they would suffer a lot less if it was just a scam.

Justin

On 1/11/06, James <wireless@×××××××××××.com> wrote:
> Petr Kocmid <Petr.Kocmid <at> project-bhairava.org> writes:
>
>
> > On Tuesday 10 January 2006 04:40, Mark Stewart wrote:
> > > Hello fellow Linux Users!
> > > We here at SaviourLinux.com desire to create a united universal way.
> > > Please visit the website for more information, but here is the purpose:
>
> > You missed the target audience. Here at gentoo there are mostly hardcore linux
> > geeks, and we already have "universal way". You do not make a fortune here
> > with a scam like this.
>
> (Splash--WAKE UP CALL)
>
> This thread has generated much noise, because it invokes the very antithesis
> of many things we hold dear: Irrelevance of Microsoft one day, ubiquitous
> secure and distributed computing, fantastic multimedia influenced and
> controlled by the little people of world etc etc....
>
> It has generated so much concern (deeply disturbing responses) because we all
> need to earn a living and it'd be nice if we could do it, being perveyours
> of linux (Gentoo specifically) yet we lack initiative.
>
> I have often talk about preparing Gentoo for the masses, with little collective
> interest. I have even offered to spent my limited financial resources to get
> talented people to develop specific software and make it open source so that
> it can be used freely, available in source code and also open to
> entrepreneurial endeavors, much like the BSDish licenses. I personally think
> all of the hype over licenses are a waste of bandwidth. Who gives a shit,
> statistically. If something is great everybody is going to use it, and
> it's associated technical perveyours should make money signing autographs.
>
> 'Savior'  is something Linux needs. The simple solution is for perveyours of
> (Gentoo) linux to stop being 'bone-heads' and start being Entrepreneurs.
> You make money, become affluent, you can write all the code and give it
> to whatever cause you want. What the youth of this list do not realize is
> their "Free time" combined with strong "programming skills" is capital.
> use it wisely, and more capital will flow your way.
>
> Specifically, I work as an engineer, with machines, industrial processes,
> communications, and too dam many lawyers and politicians. Machines on this
> earth are mostly controlled by SCADA systems: Supervisor Controls And Data
> Aquistion (sounds sexy huh?) Currenlty MicroSuck dominates the space, but,
> it's lack of robust security, has created a huge vacuum, highlighted by
> activities of 9/11. Futhermore in the near future, there will be at least
> 100 machines (micro P with connnectivity) per humanoid and the gap will
> only increase. AKA, the net of the future belongs to machines. Just look
> at the number of peripherals (machines) we have today and the pending
> explosion of every electro-mechanical device in your home, auto, work
> and leisure activities, having 'connectivity' in the not too distant
> future. Yet Linux lacks a robust open source SCADA plan. Many attemps
> have been made, but, most have been diverted to the traditional business
> model (come work for me and I'll give you a paycheck). Now is the time
> to develop software so that all electrical devices can be seemlessly
> managed and controlled. Whe have power over ethernet (802.af) and
> ethernet over powerlines, not to mention Rf chipsets that are shockingly
> low in price. The current vendor track is build a new device,
> write new software, and add it to the thousands of applications that
> exist. The future paradyne could be: Develop a robust Linux SCADA software
> package, make money migrating industry and consumers to it, and write
> device drivers for any product someone builds. That way the cost of
> software development is born of the open source community, and local
> entrepreneurs can spin hardware with local manufacturers to build
> successful 'regional products'. Gentoos get new toys, many of which
> are built by people they know....
>
> I have offered money to any young, talented  person wanting to make
> a name for themselves by championing the cause to develop an open source
> SCADA system for (Gentoo) linux.  No takers. none. Why? This could become
> an excellent opportunity to teach software development, and migrate
> the industrial world to Gentoo.
>
> Leads me to beleive that everyone has too much cash or are scared to 'step up'.
> My programming skills have atrofied (like my spelling skills) over time.
> Furthermore, I'd be most interested in installing this SCADA system somewhere
> and generating attention as to what promise Gentoo holds for the future.
> The more of an Entrepreneur I become the less time I have to stay current or
> maintain my existing skill sets. Youth provides opportunity for greatness. I'm
> willing to finance greatness. There is no greater need than to develop a
> (Gentoo) based SCADA system. EVERYONE, except the commmercial SCADA vendors is
> very, very tired of MicroSuck in the Industrial space....
>
> Then along comes this "Savior Thread" where folks are almost interested
> in giving away their personal capital in the pursuit of foolishness.
>
> My answer to Savior Linux is "put the check into the mail, and I'll be
> right there". But, I'm willing to send a check to someone that this list
> agrees with, has the BALLS and BRAINS to build a SCADA software package
> for Gentoo. I just want a licence that encourages entrepreneurial
> implementation of the software, more akin to BSDishness..... That way
> folks can build hardware, sell it in small volume, make a living,
> and the greater gentoo community becomes greater, because we have
> the newest/coolest hardware toys, and the software is part of a single,
> very cool package that is easy to maintain. Under this scheme, developing
> device drivers would become routine for Gentoo Folks. Hardware guys
> could focus on hardware and gets their drivers for free!
>
> If you are unfamilar with SCADA:
> http://www.comedi.org/doc
> http://www.modcomp.com/scada/scada_app.html
> http://www.rtaautomation.com/modbustcp
> http://www.jffnms.org
>
> The rub is ( i use to love the rub: in engineering school that's where
> some old, nasty bastard challenged the students to actually do something
> with what we were learning)
> video controls and display of video needs to be added to the SCADA software.
> I think an open API for rapid addition of machines and  hardware beyond
> that of PLC (programmable logic controllers) is important too.
> Think of it as SCADA on steroids.
>
> I'm not rich [(3) kids; beautiful, nagging wife and a boat in disrepair];
> yet this is something that I'm will to spend my money on, for the
> benfit of the wider Gentoo community.
>
> Any takers?
>
>
> sincerely,
> James Horton, PE
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> gentoo-user@g.o mailing list
>
>


--
Justin W. Hart

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