11 Mar
2007
11 Mar
'07
5:47 p.m.
Patrick Shirkey wrote:
On 10:48:40 pm 03/09/07 Robin Gareus
dear patrick. thanks for being honest! I have a different point of view,
but I agree with you on many counts, and think we're mixing up a few issues.
I was not criticizing linux audio software development or developers!
I respect and even love this distinct pack of LAD's! I'm familiar with
"professional grade" R&D and QA for open-source software. The standard
of most linux-audio hard/soft/firmware is quite high!
- linuxaudio.org is different. Ico has put up a great one-man-show, but
without any backup-singers and until a week ago even without (automated)
server-backups.. there are various holes in the setup and only few who
bother... things are improving, but still linuxaudio.org is no
professional [community] platform!
linuxaudio.org will neither be in a position to offer pro-grade support
(24/7 linux-audio.org hotline - for license-issues press '1' , for
bug-reports press '2',.. and nine nine nine for the kernel helpdesk :) )
- although many mailing-list discussions are much better - they're not
always reliable.. or professional! - but have proven to forge fruitful
professional collaborations!
anyway I've only jumped in on Thorsten exercising /the word/ in the
first place,.. but IMO _professional_ software is like _organic_ fruit!
nowadayz just a matter of definition in the marketing department.
I should have said "we're no professionals, just a bunch of nitpickin'
bastards who have no time for a web development ourselves, but we're
running this server." that would have been rude and at least half untrue
:) - anyway I never said that, did I?
If linuxaudio.org's quest to emphasizes on _professional tools_ is aided
by non-professional work techniques, who cares if the end product
satisfies professionals ????!
Sometimes I'm getting into an ideological state of mind and reserve the
right to get angry. but in this case I just wanted to play advocate on
how some open-source techniques can out-smarten professional approaches.
BTW. I did not intend to associate "unpaid" \equiv "unprofessional"
(with the English definition, whatever that is).
It's the motivation and intentions that make the difference for the
individual and individual freedom is quite important for open-source
development! - Aiming towards professional quality is great as long as
it keeps the GNUs wild and not in a Zoo! compared to gnu/linux
database-devel, the gnu/linux-audio world is a wild and gorgeous jungle.
let's keep it like that!
cheers,
robin
I was under the impression that linuxaudio.org is
a NPO, implying a
mission not a profession.
Daniel setup LAO as a focal point for the professional market to come to
and for the professionals among us to have a representative contact point
that other professional companies would feel comfortable interacting with.
The full mission is clearly presented on the main page at
www.linuxaudio.org.
I'm a professional Linux Audio Developer and there are several others who
have contributed the lion share of the audio backend who are too.
Being a professional Linux Audio Developer is something to be proud of and
is even a marketing angle that gives a certain level of immediate respect
when dealing with companies that come from a windows or more traditional
commercial dev background.
The way Thorsten chooses to work with us on his design projects is
certainly different to most companies but I think in only one major
respect. He doesn't waste time to get the ball rolling. We aren't left with
long delays to justify the enormous charges that most designers attempt to
invoice.
IMO self deprecating comments about the so called "unprofessional" approach
of yours and others obvious hard work because you/they are not being paid
in dollars and cents is unnecessary. Even more so when you are contributing
to the Linux Audio.org family of projects.
I'll attempt to state this again now.
It's a good thing to be a professional Linux Audio Developer!!! We are
different from the rest of the pack. It's something the rest of the pack
respects. It's a way of increasing your marketability in a highly
competitive industry. It's a badge of honor to be worn with pride. Anyone
who says otherwise is mistaken or misinformed. If you can do it, do it well
and enjoy it when you do.
Nuff said?