[H-GEN] Challange for you

[David Jericho]

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On Sat, Oct 19, 2002 at 09:21:28PM +1000, Harry Phillips wrote:
> I *knew* someone would post this type of reply.

Well, it is a valid answer, and very much a cliché too.

> I love linux and the flexability of it. The problem I have is that if
> programming in any language were scaled from 1 to 100, I would score
> about a 0.1 in my best catergory. I just don't have the time or effort
> to learn it from the ground up.

This is where many newcomers to the OSS world have misconceptions.
There is far more to software than just cutting code. Writing
documentation, being a project planner, coordinating a team, doing
graphic design are all part of the task too.

Having written many large web applications, I've always found the hardest
part is to get the HTML looking right. This is one area where you may
already be talented at, and often if you can provide predone HTML, a
coder won't have much difficulty slipping ASP style code into the
existing HTML code. 

> Ok, everyone has the same amount of time so what I should have said is
> 'Learning an entire programming language (or several) to do a once off
> project that someone else already has the skills to do doesn't sit
> high on my list of priorities'. The project itself is higher than the
> 'Learn everything myself from scratch out of a book' part.

This is the trade off you make by entering the OSS world. You can live as 
a user, and quite happily stay just a user, but the moment you want 
something to scratch an itch, it will involve either your time, or your money.

One thing that comes to mind that I've had to deal with recently is
RedHat Advanced Server. They've released the source for download, and
they're all happy for you to download it. You want to give RHAS a run
without signing their agreement (to do with RHN and support), you have
to build it yourself. 

I had an itch, I scratched it, and advanced my knowledge[1]

> Besides that I have a business to build and clients to service, to
> that end I am willing to cover some of your costs to create what I
> want. It will end up in the public areana, so you get compensated and
> the recognition.

The question for you becomes then, "Is my time and effort worth the
possible increase in quality of my work life?" Arguably the same can
be said about many other products out there that do a similar task.
Often they're non-trivial to drive, and you have to invest signifcant
time learning how to drive them.

> I will provide general guidence on the requirements of what it needs
> 'to do' but everything else is pretty much your choice. Perl, PHP,
> Python, wigglewaggle? I don't really care as long as it does task XYZ.

That's part of the problem. Task XYZ is often easy enough to hack
something together. Now, if you want it to do XYZ, and ABC, and both
have to mesh, you need more planning. 

> All is nice, simple, easy and logical, except for the first time user,
> who has no clue and has to ask a friend that 'uses a lift at work' or
> buy a book called 'Lifts for dummies'

And in the OSS world, you have the ability to take a screw driver,
pull the panel off, and rewrite it to suit your mode of thought. 

This is where I feel many people once again have weird ideas.
Having worked as a sys admin for nearly 4 years now, I've noticed
there is a different mode of thought in users of "Free Software" systems, 
and of "Closed software" systems.

Free software users tend to complain a lot more, and expect the
product to already exist in the form they like. They miss out on the
fact that nobody has cared enough to do it before, and that they have the
tools infront of them.

Closed software users accept there is no product that they like, and go
without[3].

[1] Pending me actually making an installable ISO, I'll upload the ISOs 
of "evilRasp's Deadrat Advanced Server", based on RedHat Advanced Server 
source rpms.[2]
[2] Hi Rob :)
[3] And then blame the seemingly incompetent IT staff instead.[4]
[4] Sys Admins are the Marine Corp of the Internet.

-- 
David Jericho
Senior Systems Administrator, Bytecomm Pty Ltd


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