What is Digg?5 Comments
- spewn, on 06/30/2008, -1/+5I think the headline of this article is sensationalist and is taken out of context. I also think Jason is right in saying that KDE (or any other FOSS project) does not *need* users in order to continue development (obviously he is talking from a developer standpoint). That statement is highlighting the directed definition of the term 'user'..someone who does not contribute anything at all back to the software projects they utilise.
If the individual users were to contribute anything at all back (ie. bug reports, ideas, etc..) then they would probably fall outside of this definition of 'user'. The actual headline/title of the article is 'We need contributors' (outcry?). Let's look at this in a sensible, objective manner and you will actually understand that he is right.
He isn't saying that users are completely worthless and don't deserve any consideration..but from a developers standpoint, if there is no contribution back..then what good is it to the development of the project? - TonyMurray, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1Wow, I love the Internet anyone can misquote and misrepresent anyone they want.
BTW, I suggest you read the first post by Aaron Seigo. It is really an excellent post that describes the situation. The reason for all this commotion is some people have been doing things that can drive developers to stop developing. The really weird thing is, I think these people intend to improve the situation, they just don't know how and actually pick an approach that can cause the opposite of their desired effect.
Hint: You can't bully people in to doing what you want over the Internet ;) - n0odles, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1This guy Striss is very manipulative for submitting a title like this. If you use KDE, you know this submission is completely fabricated. ***** you Striss!
- Gijsterbeek, on 06/30/2008, -4/+2FTA: "...they simply use *our* software....". This guy really doesn't understand anything about open software. Without users, why would I want to contribute anything? Software without users is dead by definition. And as such, not worth contributing to. The sheer happiness of reporting a bug which, once solved, will help countless users use their program better, is the only motivation for me to contribute!
Regrettably the article articulates and even widens the deep abyss between KDE and Gnome. - ChompTheMan, on 06/30/2008, -5/+2This is the reason I do not recommend FOSS to anybody, ever. This type of attitude isn't isolated to one dev or project, it's rampant in the FOSS dev communities. This is why Linux(FOSS) will never be mainstream. Ever. There will never be a "year of the Linux desktop", because desktops are for end users, and end users aren't important in the FOSS world.
Additionally, if a project needs more contributors, then try making the contributing process less complicated and intimidating to your average end user. FOSS developers are brilliant at developing software, but incredibly stupid, harsh, and cold when it comes to real people.
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