On Jan 18, 2010, at 7:12 PM, Ruth Hoffman wrote: > Hello David: > > Would it be possible to get download counts?
I don't know. That's not really my thing. One big number is probably the SVN checkout and update loads, but I'm not sure if those are available anywhere. That would be an ASF infra thing. For the other, the downloads are still on the build.ofbiz.org site which is donated and managed by Hotwax Media and Contegix, so maybe someone involved there could comment. -David > Here's an interesting statistic I'd like to share with the list: Although > I've only been providing my free download document for the last 5 months or > so, I've seen more activity since the New Year (that would be in the last 18 > days) then any other 2 months combined. By activity I mean a user fills out > the survey and then downloads the free "Getting Started w/OFBiz in 5 Steps". > That tells me there is interest out there. We just need to figure out what > the "need" is and how to fill it with OFBiz. > > Regards, > Ruth > ---------------------------------------------------- > Find me on the web at http://www.myofbiz.com or Google keyword "myofbiz" > ruth.hoff...@myofbiz.com > > David E Jones wrote: >> I think you're right Jacques, though I also think it's a natural and maybe >> not a bad thing. >> >> Most people in the world aren't investing in much right now, even those who >> have time and/or money to invest, because they don't expect much of a return >> on the investment. Any successful investor will tell you that it's best to >> get into things when it is cheap to invest (ie when others don't expect a >> return and aren't investing), and then get out when the market is great >> (when others do expect a return and are investing a lot). However, the same >> people will often fail to recognize that such conditions are not only >> impossible to predict in the future, but also impossible to recognize in the >> present, and they further fail to recognize that the fact that they were >> able to invest in a low market and get out when the market picked up was >> probably just the luck of timing. Just ask any honest economist (if you can >> find one!)... they can't even accurately analyze the present, let alone >> predict the future... even if they are asked to every day. >> >> Anyway, the point of all of that is that yes there isn't as much activity in >> OFBiz right now. I think this is natural given that most end-user >> organizations have pulled back their budgets significantly. That makes sense >> because the sectors where OFBiz has been strongest (at least from my >> experience) are getting hit really hard right now and many companies are not >> just cutting back, but totally failing. End-user organizations have always >> been about 90% of my work, but are now down to 0%... and I haven't designed >> or built anything for one in almost a year now. Fortunately there are other >> types of companies out there, but one way or another the demand for OFBiz is >> WAY down as the industries and sizes of businesses it serves are hit so hard. >> >> From the perspective of the project what does this matter? Unlike a company >> a non-profit community-driven open source project has no liabilities and >> there is no way it can just disappear (unless no one is using it, ie it >> falls into irrelevancy). Even if somehow the ASF failed to get adequate >> donations of money or server time to keep hosting the project, it could be >> hosted elsewhere, or even turn into some crazy peer managed ecosystem using >> distributed git repositories (some people would love that, but I think it >> would be a nightmare for both contributors and users). >> >> In any case, the worst case scenario is that the project slows down a little >> bit. If we're lucky people won't lose too much hope and will continue to >> invest in open source projects like OFBiz, which is really an investment >> that developers do in hopes of getting more and better work in the future. >> If people don't feel much hope for that then chances are they won't invest >> as much, and maybe just the hobbyists who want to develop neat stuff will be >> contributing. >> >> Sooner or later things will of course pick up, and then we'll be back to >> complaints about too much going into the project instead of complaints about >> not enough. On the other hand, given an infinite potential universe of >> things people might want to see in OFBiz, there will ALWAYS be complaints >> about things missing that certain people would like to see, or things >> organized better for their current requirements, or wishes for free help >> instead of peer collaboration. >> >> Oh well, I guess enough pontificating for now, especially since I'm no >> pontiff. >> >> -David >> >> >> >> On Jan 18, 2010, at 11:48 AM, Jacques Le Roux wrote: >> >> >>> And then, those that invested much, slowly invest less... >>> >>> Jacques >>> >>> From: "BJ Freeman" <bjf...@free-man.net> >>> >>>> The missing element is manpower. >>>> Get lots of great Ideas but not many contributors. >>>> >>>> Axel Van Noten sent the following on 1/18/2010 6:58 AM: >>>> >>>>> Thanks, I learned a lot. >>>>> >>>>> Still, I'm a little bit disappointed about the overall documentation. >>>>> Would it be possible to: >>>>> >>>>> 1) have it organised by release, >>>>> 2) link to it immediatly from the documentation buton (on >>>>> ofbiz.apache.org), or the help button in the application, >>>>> 3) have a clearer structure (per release) like: >>>>> >>>>> Getting Started with OFBiz >>>>> OFBiz End User Documentation >>>>> OFBiz Reference Manual >>>>> OFBiz Technical Guide >>>>> OFBiz Tools and Utilities Guide >>>>> ... >>>>> >>>>> I know its easy to criticise, but I believe the project would gain a lot >>>>> just by changing these links and making a different hierarchy. >>>>> >>>>> Kind regards, >>>>> Axel >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> From BJ Freeman <bjf...@free-man.net> >>>>> Subject Re: OFBiz data load >>>>> Date Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:29:38 GMT >>>>> http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBENDUSER/OFBiz%27s+Data+File+Tools >>>>> here is a good link for a lot of help >>>>> http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBIZ/FAQ+-+Tips+-+Tricks+-+Cookbook+-+HowTo >>>>> http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBIZ/Handling+of+External+data >>>>> >>>>> Juan Pablo sent the following on 1/14/2010 8:42 AM: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Axel. >>>>>> >>>>>> 1) >>>>>> http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBENDUSER/OFBiz+End+User+Docs+Home >>>>>> http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBTECH/Home >>>>>> >>>>>> 2) http://ofbiz.markmail.org/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 8:30 AM, axel van noten >>>>>> <axelvanno...@hotmail.com>wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I've been installing OFBiz and looking for the following information: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 1) Where is the primary point can I find the most update documentation? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The documentation buton on the OFBiz website and the help button in the >>>>>>> application are both bringing me to the cwiki.apache site. But there >>>>>>> seems >>>>>>> to be no clear structure nor a primary point where I can turn to for >>>>>>> manuals >>>>>>> and documentation. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 2) is there a possibility to perform a text search on this mailing list? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 3) I'm trying to load a product database into OFBiz. What would be the >>>>>>> appropriate way to do so? Is this documented somewhere? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks for your help! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Kind regards >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Axel >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _________________________________________________________________ >>>>>>> Keep your friends updated�even when you�re not signed in. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/see-it-in-action/social-network-basics.aspx?ocid=PID23461::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-xm:SI_SB_5:092010 >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you’re up to >>>>> on Facebook. >>>>> _________________________________________________________________ >>>>> Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you’re up to >>>>> on Facebook. >>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/windows/windowslive/see-it-in-action/social-network-basics.aspx?ocid=PID23461::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-xm:SI_SB_2:092009 >>>>> >>> >> >> >> >
