[Rubyforchange-talk] Let's Find a Project

[Helder Ribeiro]

Just a small question: are we talking about free software here?

I mean, that sounds like an obvious "yes" to me, but I don't know
people's backgrounds on this list or how strongly they feel one way or
the other.

2007/8/14, Chad Fowler <chad at chadfowler.com>:
> Hello Friends!
>
> Now that we're a few days old here on the mailing list, I believe our
> first order of non-logistical business is to find a first project.  I
> don't know what the project is, nor do I have any great suggestions,
> but I'm hoping someone on the list will have some ideas or some
> friends who have ideas or some friends of friends....and so on.
>
> Here's what I think we need:
>
> * A 501(c)3 with a real application need which could have a
> significant impact (the level of significance, of course, to be
> determined)
> * A person from that non-profit who can serve as the authoritative
> customer for what the application should do
> * A commitment of consistent involvement from that customer to help
> drive feature requirements and provide feedback
> * A (preferably same-city) "project lead" from this community to
> serve as the point of developer continuity, so we're not trying to
> piece together a cohesive application from too many random people's
> hour-scraps on the weekends without someone who understands the full
> context of the app.
> * Hopefully a designer or two to help us make a decent UI.  Nobody
> wants to use a UI that, for example, I made.  Yuck.
>
> My suggestion is that we propose projects here and come to a
> consensus (assuming that's possible) on what the final choice is.
> I'd like to suggest a self-imposed deadline for us, but we have to go
> out and locate customers so I'm not sure how long that might take.
>
> If we're in agreement, then the obvious first step is to start
> scouring for non-profits in need.  Ask your friends to ask your
> friends for ideas.  DEFINITELY post on your weblog about it.  Let's
> get the word out that help is out there for the right project that
> needs it.
>
> That being said, getting the word out is a whole other deal.  I think
> we need a reasonable web presence and, hopefully at some point, a
> more automated system for connecting non-profits with developers.
> Let's save that for another thread.
>
> Thanks!
> Chad
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