[toronto-lisp] Potential new user/dev group for free/open source software
I don't know how people feel about free/open source software here, but I've been kinda wanting to start a new group that promotes and encourages the use of free/open source software in Toronto and the GTA and in the rest of Ontario. In terms of Lisp, I guess this would mean discussing the perils and pitfalls of using certain open source licenses for Lisp code or Lisp implementations, and maybe discussing which free software implementations or open source modules are the best to use, and maybe how it impacts business. I think that's one of the larger issues; building a business on free software (I know a few Toronto Lisp people were involved in startups and larger enterprises). So what would you guys think about this? Does anyone here like talking about free/open source software? :P -- Rudolf Olah <omouse@gmail.com>
On 2010-12-25, at 4:16 PM, Rudolf Olah wrote:
I don't know how people feel about free/open source software here, but I've been kinda wanting to start a new group that promotes and encourages the use of free/open source software in Toronto and the GTA and in the rest of Ontario.
In terms of Lisp, I guess this would mean discussing the perils and pitfalls of using certain open source licenses for Lisp code or Lisp implementations, and maybe discussing which free software implementations or open source modules are the best to use, and maybe how it impacts business. I think that's one of the larger issues; building a business on free software (I know a few Toronto Lisp people were involved in startups and larger enterprises).
So what would you guys think about this? Does anyone here like talking about free/open source software? :P
-- Rudolf Olah <omouse@gmail.com>
I am interested in this topic. I have never really understood all of the issues. While I have read statements of an ideological nature about FOSS, I do not know anything about the theory of business models in relation to FOSS. Are you thinking of forming a separate group? Or were you proposing to use the Toronto Lisp group as a springboard somehow? - Dave -
On 10-12-26 05:54 PM, David Penton wrote:
On 2010-12-25, at 4:16 PM, Rudolf Olah wrote:
I don't know how people feel about free/open source software here, but I've been kinda wanting to start a new group that promotes and encourages the use of free/open source software in Toronto and the GTA and in the rest of Ontario.
This was tried in Victoria. It sort of worked. Another alternative is a "recreational computer science club" but that's really like a lightweight academic lecture track. If you do it, get speakers, hammer it down. Organize and try to ensure there is a social aspect. Maybe check out zedshaw's hacker club manifesto which did not pan out.
In terms of Lisp, I guess this would mean discussing the perils and pitfalls of using certain open source licenses for Lisp code or Lisp implementations, and maybe discussing which free software implementations or open source modules are the best to use, and maybe how it impacts business. I think that's one of the larger issues; building a business on free software (I know a few Toronto Lisp people were involved in startups and larger enterprises).
One way to make people care about presenting is a project night. Try to find a Rails project night if you want to see "industrial" interaction.
So what would you guys think about this? Does anyone here like talking about free/open source software? :P
One potential thing to do is to pay for meetup, grab all those opensource users on meetup and hijack it, basically pay for 6 months and as you do that switch over to an alternative (meetup is abrasive in terms of privacy). Meetup shows there is interest, but you have to be organized and distinctive from a Linux Users Group. You should focus on development if you want a separate group. abram
participants (3)
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Abram Hindle -
David Penton -
Rudolf Olah