[Freedombox-discuss] An offer to the Freedombox community

[Joshua Spodek]

As posted here: http://joshuaspodek.com/an-offer-freedombox-community

My post on how Freedombox’s pursuit of perfection is undermining its
goals --
http://joshuaspodek.com/freedomboxs-pursuit-perfection-undermines-goals
-- prompted some discussion. Hearing how people the Freedombox community
wants to help end up supporting products we see as non-Free jolted my
system. I believe constructive criticism helps, but my desire to
contribute more led to the offer below.

One person’s response got me thinking about how I, as someone who
doesn't write much software, can help.

        Diaspora is a decent example. They released something buggy,
        with minimal functionality, reasonably early on… yes, they were
        criticized for it’s quality at the time, but it got people using
        it (those who could get an invite / understand they go go
        elsewhere, anyway) and today they’re by far the largest free
        socnet alternative.

Diaspora has a long way to go to succeed, but it has a product out
there. Why did it release something while Freedombox hasn't?

Bdale Garbee wrote

        The services that work today *are* released, and are widely
        distributed in the Debian mirror network. Anyone who wants to
        stand up some or all of the services that have been discussed
        here need only find a cast-off machine, install Debian, and have
        at it using the notes various folks have contributed to on the
        wiki.

I respectfully feel like he described the situation before Eben first
presented the project and suggested we could complete the project
quickly. It suggests the Debian community is better at packaging what
others first create and informing each other of what pieces are out
there. Important, but not what the project needs now.

I believe projects work when one person or a small number of people
dedicate themselves to doing it themselves. I also believe a sole
developer out there, or maybe a small group, wants to create a working
Freedombox and has the programming and packaging skills to do it, but
also has other challenges they need other resources to overcome.

Based on these beliefs, I will put my time where my mouth is and offer
my time to one person or small group working toward releasing a working,
however minimally, Freedombox to bring it to release. I’d like to free
them from whatever project-related tasks are keeping them from
programming and packaging. Or to provide or help find necessary
resources.

My time is limited but my motivation and ability to find other resources
are great. I’m happy to work one on one, in person, remotely, whatever.
I can work as a project manager or guy Friday; you can be my boss or I
can be yours; ... whatever will help the project best. I can help
motivate if that will help best or find other people who can solve
problems we can’t. You get the idea.

If you are someone capable of creating a minimally working Freedombox
and could use help, email me and let’s figure out if I can help you
complete the project. If you are someone not capable to complete the
project but similarly motivated, maybe you could offer your services
too.

I came up with the idea while reading responses to my earlier
constructive criticism. I don’t know how much the offer will help, so if
someone can think of a better way for me to offer my services, please
let me know.

Josh
www.joshuaspodek.com

P.S. Sorry for the long message