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OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

marc.info

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Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#351

Post by Gracana »

robot_t wrote: post #348
SwellJoe wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most offensive man pages are GNU project pages that effectively say, "for real documentation read the info page". Which, as someone that can never remember how to use info, is frustrating and just serves to piss me off...my first thought is "and a big fuck you to you, too". And then I look it up online so I don't have to read how to use info before I can read how to use the command I was looking for docs on. I do…

I was like you once, then I learned you could do e.g.: info coreutils|less Now I no longer have anger management issues

Well that sure is handy. Hopefully I'll remember that next time.

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#352

Post by asdasf »

sliverstorm wrote: post #228
asdasf wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

BSD stopped 20 years ago, if you are worried about losing it you are a little late. This weird misconception that because openbsd is begging for money that other projects with the letters "BSD" in them are in some sort of danger is bizarre. Inventing a problem that doesn't exist, then suggesting doing something that wouldn't solve it as a solution is simply insane.

BSD stopped 20 years ago I doubt you were truly unable to determine I was not talking about the Berkeley Software Distribution, but the family it spawned. Which leads me to conclude you are being obtuse. For... pleasure? I don't know.

No, I am pointing out something very obvious and important that you seem to have missed. A bunch of totally independent, distinct projects don't all vanish because one of them wants money. The entire premise that "BSD" would vanish makes no sense.

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#353

Post by rjsw »

rnemo wrote: post #234
xradionut wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's probably a few hobbyists that still use SGIs. Octeon is mostly commercial vendors, who could pay for all of OpenBSDs needs out of their fancy executive toilet paper budget. And there's one OpenBSD hacker who uses Loongson, even GNU cult leaders use GNU/Linux on Loongson instead.

More than one OpenBSD hacker used loongson

If you want to support MIPS for embedded applications then loongson is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to run stuff right now.

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#354

Post by transitionality »

sliverstorm wrote: post #84
d_theorist wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or hidden option c): ask people to donate money.

Well, yes, clearly. But it's been a month since the initial ask, and this sort of "threat": the fact is right now, OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on. suggests the necessary $20k (cash) has not been forthcoming. P.S. I understand it's not a threat in the sense of ransom etc, but the most correct word is not coming to my mind.

It's game theory.

All three options exist, but the maintainers pretending that option b doesn't exist at this point in time increases the probability that option c will succeed.

If the pretense doesn't work, be very much assured that they will go with option b.

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#355

Post by transitionality »

vinceguidry wrote: post #161
Fomite wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. Don't be a dick to people giving you money - customers or donors. If you can't turn it off, don't be donor facing.

Sure, they should totally just get their PR person on it. Oh look, now they're asking for $40,000

We need PR people to devote their time and expertise to open source projects, just as developers do.

We wouldn't even need a very good one. I bet some kid still in school, studying PR, would do a better job than Theo.

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#356

Post by weland »

enneff wrote: post #229
weland wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know OpenBSD's reputation is primarily security, but I use it for a different reason. It's simple, stable, and doesn't break. Back when I was in high school and I had a lot of free time and all that, the various incarnations of Linux were a delight. Even after that, I still went with it out of inertia and spent many evenings tweaking Gentoo. I eventually just goddamn gave up. I got sick of every upgrade breaking so…

What parts of Plan 9 are you referring to?

Only subjective, but technical ones. Simplicity and stability of well-integrated userspace tools, sane defaults, good portability.

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#357

Post by oftenwrong »

robot_t wrote: post #348
SwellJoe wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most offensive man pages are GNU project pages that effectively say, "for real documentation read the info page". Which, as someone that can never remember how to use info, is frustrating and just serves to piss me off...my first thought is "and a big fuck you to you, too". And then I look it up online so I don't have to read how to use info before I can read how to use the command I was looking for docs on. I do…

I was like you once, then I learned you could do e.g.: info coreutils|less Now I no longer have anger management issues

Wow, thanks for the tip. I will never have to use info again!

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#358

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast »

werid wrote: post #173
gtirloni wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At home when things get though, we cut costs and hope for better times. If OpenBSD isn't exaggerating about shutting down the project, then it seems reasonable to review their policy regarding old platforms and focus on what gives the most return.

Dropping platforms will lose them developers. Developers who also work on the main platforms, or atleast whose work crosses over.

What proportion of the openbsd development team is contributing because they want to work on some ancient k-car chassis.

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#359

Post by vog »

tobiasu wrote: post #82
vog wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, they should consider looking more at Europe, especially France and Germany. Their donation page seems to focus too much on US, Canada and seems to assume the rest of the world is happy with PayPal. Other organization provide all information for SEPA bank transfers on their donation page (e.g. http://www.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Donate/SEPA ), while the OpenBSD donation page just provides an email address that y…

Theo has a german bank account right here: http://www.openbsd.org/bank-donation.html

I find it confusing that "OpenBSD" and "OpenBSD Foundation" have different donation sites. Nevertheless, being able to donate directly to these bank accounts is great!

Re: OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on

#360

Post by transitionality »

rrjamie wrote: post #7
Spooky23 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish they had done an appeal before the end of 2013. I usually do my donations then, when I "close the books" for the year.

From their donation page, donations are not tax-deductible (for individuals at least; businesses may be able to expense them). Nevertheless, I donated $50 just for the excellent work they do on OpenSSH.

A very rational decision. Nobody else will sell you a comparable product for that price. Is there even a comparable product?
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