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Line 113: − '''Development :'''+ + + + + + + + + − Ian Wells is currently leading the charge in this area. He would like around 7 developers plus a few testers to help verify.+ + + + + − Ian Wells<br />+ − Charlie Brady<br />+ − Shad Lords<br />+ − Greg Zartman<br /> − Daniel Berteaud<br /> − John Crisp<br /> − '''Testing :''' − Chris Burnat<br />+ − jester ??<br />+ − Huib de Visser<br />+ − '''Bugs and maintenance'''<br /> − '''Current SME v8 mainline packages :'''<br />+ − Developers as above+ − '''Contributed packages :'''<br /> − Package maintainers (could do with some feedback in this area !)( − '''Old packages :'''<br />+ − Jean-Philippe PIALASSE+ + + − '''Wiki & Docs :'''<br />+ − Chris Burnat<br />+ − Terr Fage<br />+ − '''Forums :'''<br /> Line 154:
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The future of SME Server (view source)
Revision as of 12:25, 5 February 2013
, 12:25, 5 February 2013link text in Follow Up section
== A Community Discussion ==
== A Community Discussion ==
A document to discuss potential management and roadmap at SME
A document to discuss potential management and roadmap at SME
At the moment SME has neither. If we want to move SME forward we have therefore got to build both of these at the same time.
At the moment SME has neither. If we want to move SME forward we have therefore got to build both of these at the same time.
== First, a plan. ==
== First, a plan. ==
I have been trying to canvas opinion from users on the mailing lists and via IRC. I have also received personal emails as well.
I have been trying to canvas opinion from users on the mailing lists and via IRC. I have also received personal emails as well.
Although not a massive sample, the general consensus seems to be as follows :
Although not a massive sample, the general consensus seems to be as follows :
==== Move the current base to CentOS 6 asap ====
This is to allow installation on newer hardware, allow easier installation of other applications with less interference of the existing subsystem. CentOS 5 is already getting on. Users want to keep abreast of newer technologies. The pace of change is fast. We may not all like it, but we cannot change it. We have to make some sort of attempt to keep there or thereabouts. Users and developers want the knowledge that the platform will be current and supported to allow them time to develop applications for it.
This is to allow installation on newer hardware, allow easier installation of other applications with less interference of the existing subsystem. CentOS 5 is already getting on. Users want to keep abreast of newer technologies. The pace of change is fast. We may not all like it, but we cannot change it. We have to make some sort of attempt to keep there or thereabouts. Users and developers want the knowledge that the platform will be current and supported to allow them time to develop applications for it.
The current consensus is that though there are plenty of things that we would like to be added to v9 the best thing is to get it out of the door, and then develop new ideas for a v9.1 e.g. LDAP, SAMBA, VPS etc.
The current consensus is that though there are plenty of things that we would like to be added to v9 the best thing is to get it out of the door, and then develop new ideas for a v9.1 e.g. LDAP, SAMBA, VPS etc.
==== Need to increase funding ====
==== Need to increase funding ====
Site costs - all donations go there today, and it is not enough. Shad has been open and provided what numbers he can.
Site costs - all donations go there today, and it is not enough. Shad has been open and provided what numbers he can.
Development money for Charlie,
* Development money for Charlie and Shad
* If we generate funds then there will be a need to account for them and means accountants and lawyers
If we generate funds then there will be a need to account for them and means accountants and lawyers
Traditionally SME has been developer led, but it also needs a firm financial footing to help fund current and future costs. No money, no honey as they say.
Traditionally SME has been developer led, but it also needs a firm financial footing to help fund current and future costs. No money, no honey as they say.
'''Current status''' : Dire. Shad has already reported that average income is only a couple of hundred dollars a month and that just about meets his hosting costs.
'''Current status''' : Shad has already reported that average income is only a couple of hundred dollars a month and that just about meets his hosting costs.
There are suggestions on how to monetise SME whilst still retaining its Open Source tradition. The first thing that springs to mind is some form of advertising on the web site. The current site, though a great resource for SME, does not really sell the product. In the first instance it looks old, and there is a lot of material that is very old and needs bringing up to date – there is work on going already in that department.
There are suggestions on how to monetise SME whilst still retaining its Open Source tradition. The first thing that springs to mind is some form of advertising on the web site. The current site, though a great resource for SME, does not really sell the product. In the first instance it looks old, and there is a lot of material that is very old and needs bringing up to date – there is work on going already in that department.
There are a number of people looking at ideas on how to get greater visibility, more users, and attract potential sponsors or advertisers. We need to have a product in which people see a future, and a concept they can buy in to.
There are a number of people looking at ideas on how to get greater visibility, more users, and attract potential sponsors or advertisers. We need to have a product in which people see a future, and a concept they can buy in to.
There are a small group looking at the whole marketing aspect of SME including redevelopment of the front page. There have been a variety of suggestion that are being looked at :
There is a small group looking at the whole marketing aspect of SME including redevelopment of the front page. A variety of suggestions is being looked at, including :
Revitalize/redesign the website<br />
* Should we rebrand or just redefine SME in the market place ?
Make it sexy<br />
* Revitalize/redesign the website
Look at (appropriate) advertising <br />
* Make it sexy
Donations<br />
* Look at (appropriate) advertising
Subscriptions<br />
* Donations
Would we use a CMS or do a ground up design ?<br />
* Subscriptions
If CMS the which one (So many to choose from) <br />
* Would we use a CMS or do a ground up design ?
Run a contest on Contribs asking for ideas for an updated SME brand ?<br />
* If CMS the which one (So many to choose from)
* Run a contest on Contribs asking for ideas for an updated SME brand ?
Other suggestions include asking for specific donations of hardware, or assistance with media, marketing, website design, finance and law.
Other suggestions include asking for specific donations of hardware, or assistance with media, marketing, website design, finance and law.
Raising income levels is a major task, and very important. How we do it is an area we need to discuss further.
Raising income levels is a major task, and very important. How we do it is an area we need to discuss further.
==== Manpower ====
==== Manpower ====
We also needs a project that has a future and that will attract new developers
We also needs a project that has a future and that will attract new developers
== Need for some form of organisation ==
== Need for some form of organisation ==
Whether we like it or not, we need to have some form of organisation. Without it the project will be like a headless chicken.
Whether we like it or not, we need to have some form of organisation. Without it the project will be like a headless chicken.
In discussions it seems that a simple structure similar to the following would be a reasonable path to take :
In discussions it seems that a simple structure similar to the following would be a reasonable path to take :
*Development<br />
* Development
*Bugs & maintenance<br />
* Bugs & maintenance
*Contributed packages (current and old/ unmaintained)<br />
* Contributed packages (current and old/ unmaintained)
*Wiki & Docs<br />
* Wiki & Docs
*Forums<br />
* Forums<br />
*Media / Marketing<br />
* Media / Marketing
Finance & Legal<br />
* Finance & Legal
We have a number of people who have indicated they will assist. The list is by no means exhaustive and I have missed people off – I still can't always remember peoples names coupled with email addresses and IRC nicks ! If I have missed you, please add yourself, or contact anyone here and they will help.
We have a number of people who have indicated they will assist. The list is by no means exhaustive and I have missed people off – I still can't always remember peoples names coupled with email addresses and IRC nicks ! If I have missed you, please add yourself, or contact anyone here and they will help.
==== Development ====
Ian Wells is currently leading the charge in this area. He would like more developers and more testers to help verify.
* Ian Wells
* Charlie Brady
* Shad Lords
* Greg Zartman
* Daniel Berteaud
* John Crisp
==== Testing ====
* jester ??
* Huib de Visser
* Terry Fage
* Jim McLaren
==== Bugs and maintenance ====
===== Current SME v8 mainline packages =====
Developers as above
===== Contributed packages =====
Package maintainers (could do with some feedback in this area !)
* Brian Read (mailstats package)
===== Old packages =====
* Jean-Philippe PIALASSE
===== Wiki & Docs =====
* Terry Fage
* Stéphane de Labrusse
* Brian Read
===== Forums =====
* Terry Fage
* Stéphane de Labrusse
I do not yet know who the moderators are but I would be grateful if someone could put their names here !
I do not yet know who the moderators are but I would be grateful if someone could put their names here !
Forums give a great opportunity to try and get users to assist more with the project. If they are stuck, after possibly browsing some documentation, it is the next place they will look. We need to be pro active in trying to support them, and getting them to support us.
Forums give a great opportunity to try and get users to assist more with the project. If they are stuck, after possibly browsing some documentation, it is the next place they will look. We need to be pro active in trying to support them, and getting them to support us.
Bearing in mind many don’t know much about, or don’t want to use mailing lists in the first instance, it is a good place to announce things and keep people up to date as well.
Bearing in mind many don’t know much about, or don’t want to use mailing lists in the first instance, it is a good place to announce things and keep people up to date as well.
==== Media, Marketing, Legal & Finance ====
John Crisp<br />
* John Crisp
Greg Zartman<br />
* Greg Zartman
Tony Keane<br />
* Tony Keane
== Summary ==
== Summary ==
Don’t ask your distro what it can do for you. Ask what you can do for your distro :-)
Don’t ask your distro what it can do for you. Ask what you can do for your distro :-)
== Google Docs version of this page ==
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1weBhHMD0UtNVNLicE7r2sW4eyCHW8D4ePp7W4gZSNCc/edit
Please follow up this post on the Discussion mailing list :
Please follow up this post on the Discussion mailing list :
You can join all the lists here [http://lists.contribs.org/mailman/listinfo/]
You can join all the lists here: [http://lists.contribs.org/mailman/listinfo/ Contribs.org - Mailman].
This is the official place for discussion on the future of SME.
This is the official place for discussion on the future of SME.
For more Genral Chat please visit the Forums [http://forums.contribs.org] or there is a also a IRC channel where people who are interested in this effort 'hang out'. You're most welcome to drop by and/or join. It's free! ;-)
For more General Chat please visit the [http://forums.contribs.org Contribs.org - Forums] or there is a also a IRC channel where people who are interested in this effort 'hang out'. You're most welcome to drop by and/or join. It's free! ;-)
You do not have to install anything to pay the channel a visit. All you need is a nice nickname and right click [http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=SME_server&uio=Mj10cnVlJjk9dHJ1ZSYxMT03Mg13 Freenode.net - SME_server] to open the channel in a new browser window or tab.
<noinclude>[[Category:SME9-Development]]