I think this is a really interesting idea. My first thought is, what problem are we trying to solve? The issue (as I see it), is that motivation for open-source projects tend to fizzle out over time due to lack of time and resources to maintain a project or start new ones. This is due to the free (not Free) nature of Free Software. Although we code because we love it, we also have to support ourselves and our families. I am blessed with the ability to work for a commercial company that produces software for Linux. However, if our software was Free and Open Source, there may not be a business model to support me.
There are companies generating revenue from OpenSource software, but mainly in the way of support or consultancy. This proposal would be a nice way to offer incentives for OpenSource developers to stay motivated working on projects and still keeping the software free and open. My only concern is with the general consensus that everything should be created and distributed for no profit or gain other than the sharing of good will. That sounded great in the 60's, but not very realistic. The well intentioned idealists have created what I would call an environment of parasites. Those who insist everything must be free, but are not willing to contribute to the cause. This thinking also becomes an excuse for piracy for protected media and works (such as movies, software, and music). If this can somehow appeal to the idealists and get at least accepted by the parasites, I think it has a real chance. There are many websites that auction off software development to the lowest bidder. Rather than a committee set the price for developemt, there could be an auction-style format that as a community a project or need could warrent a certain number of credits. Such as an open-source application for digital cameras. Then bidders pledge credits for the features they want included. Then developers collect on the pledges when the feature is implemented. Let the market set the price. Personally I welcome anything that will help with motivating developers to continue coding. This is a great idea in my book. Thanks for taking the time to read my opinion. -David On Thursday 22 June 2006 21:43, Walter Hieber wrote: > Nothing other than this idea has happened so far. I was brain storming > about a potential method to bring a little more order to the open source > world the idea is an Open Source Currency and the unit of Currency is the > Yoper. Read below if you are interested. I have not yet setup a Forum at > Yoperstuff but do plan on it as soon as I can if this idea stirs any > interest in the Open Source Community. You heard it here first! > > The Linux Currency for all open source projects- the Yoper > The Yoper is a unit of currency that can be traded and used as a unit of > value for trading, voting, and supporting, contributed open source works, > applications, or actual real physical property. > > Members of the Open Source community such as developers, contributors, > users, and any participant can open a Yoper account and begin participating > in the exchange. To obtain a Yoper account a user must either sign up and > pay $10.00 to establish the Yoper account or have a recognized Open Source > project that has been submitted for review and approval by the Yoper > Reserve. The member then gets Y10 added to the account and can immediately > begin using their Yopers to make purchases, cast votes, donate to projects, > or purchase real items such as memberships, merchandise, Skype calls, mp3 > downloads, etc or any other type of transaction that people want to setup > trade for. > > Each Yoper Account member will have a unique PGP key that is part of the > transaction mechanism that will function as an account routing tool. When a > contributing member signs up for an account and uses an open source > contribution then the Yoper Reserve will evaluate the project and set an > estimated contribution value (ECV). The ECV is the total amount of Yoper > that the project is worth in Yoper and then a “per use” suggested donation > amount (SDA). > > For example lets say that an account holder produces a project called > MyMed. MyMed is a program to keep track of your medications and medical > records. The project is submitted for review and the Yoper Reserve by way > of votes, and evaluation rubrics estimates that the Project is worth a > total of Y5,000.00 The Yoper Reserve will grant Y5,000 to the creators > account and provide the project with a Yoper Donation Slot which is nothing > more than a secure link to make a Yoper donation contribution similar to > making a paypal payment with the suggested donation amount. Users can offer > more per use or decide not to pay at all. The use will simply strengthen > the Open Source movement and pressure should be exerted to influence users > to participate in the exchange for the good of open source. > > The Yoper will be accessed via online transactions so open source > participant members can provide a link in the signature lines on forums, or > in e-mail signatures and people can donate to each other freely for aid and > assistance. > > The possibilities are endless and efforts to involve all the contributing > members of established Linux projects and Linux supporting companies should > be involved prior to the first day launch of the Yoper Currency System. If > you would like to Join the discussion of this concept please visit > Yoperstuff.com and visit the Yoper Open Source Currency forum to share your > views. > > Walter C. Hieber III > > > _______________________________________________ > yoper-dev mailing list > yoper-dev@lists.yoper.com > https://morpheus.pingos.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/yoper-dev -- David Huffman Support & Development Storix, Inc Life is hard. Get a helmet. _______________________________________________ yoper-dev mailing list yoper-dev@lists.yoper.com https://morpheus.pingos.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/yoper-dev
