Salim Badakhchani | Certified I.T. professional, with over 20 years of experience, specialising in the banking and telecommunications industry. Passionate supporter of Community Software developed under Free and Open Source (FOSS) licenses and an early adopter and advocate of those technologies. Strong all rounder with broad industry experience spanning development and operations. Expert in defining process, documenting work flow, identifying best practice and developing tooling for automation.
Authored Comments
I agree with you regarding the split between FSF and OSI. It was pretty ugly but I don't think you can deny the success of the OSI whether or not you agree with it. I see Community Software as a possible reconciliation of the two. I see Free Software as representing those in our community who for care more about the ethics of their work than about the software. The Open Source movement came about because they cared more about the technology. Community Software is concerned about the adoption FOSS. It represents business. We need all three in my opinion if we are to compete effectively with propitiatory software. We have to engage with business without compromising the values that FOSS represents and this seems like the most plausible to do it.
I would echo this sentiment and as mentioned the bigger picture of diversity and inclusiveness was a theme that really chimed with people. As FOSS expands into new markets a message that promotes diversity and inclusiveness will have real value. Ideas on how best to approach this also seem very reasonable on a risk return basis.
In a nutshell we are considering an opt in program, actively supported by FOSS communities, to re-brand FOSS for those companies that feel they may benefit from such a change. I'm keen to find out how words that refer to more concrete objects (such as people and community) fair against more abstract concepts (like free and open).
We are trying to formulate a short list of words that might help create an alternative message for these providers to use when pitching to non technical marketing executives of small and medium sized businesses. These seemed to be the type of businesses that are effected by the problem the most.
A criteria for selection should include that the fact the word in question should translate consistently across a broad range of languages. It should also clearly state in any definition that the term would only apply to FOSS compatible licensing but this would be presented as detail under a heading of diversity and inclusiveness.
So far the following terms have been suggested which would be suffixed by "Software":
Community
Collaborative
Co-operative
fair
value