Apr

11

Evaluating Open Source Software Projects and Companies

Filed Under Technology

Undertaking evaluation of open source software for the ? time (too many times), I decided to look for new insights into evaluating software.

As a little background, I always try to understand first what I absolutely need for my personal project. Then, as I compile a list of software that most closely solves the needs of my personal project, I’ve always reviewed open source software projects for a business model to drive growth and hints of momentum. I comb in the search engine indices and the projects’ forums (one great gauge is that many of the projects with the best momentum are inside my CPanel, and others are on simplescripts via Bluehost). But I’ve never compiled a list of criteria to systematize my evaluation and this morning I decided to tackle the problem for a couple hours.

I hoped that by 2009 some one had put together a reliable, systematic way of evaluating open source projects. I got excited when I discovered OpenBRR, backed by the likes of O’Reilly and Intel.  Then I realized my excitement was premature as the last news on the initiative was in 2006 and the home page hadn’t been updated since May 2007. Finally, the phpBB forum powering the community section of the website wasn’t even working.

phpBB : Critical Error

Error creating new session

DEBUG MODE

SQL Error : 1016 Can’t open file: ‘phpbb_sessions.MYI’ (errno: 145)

INSERT INTO phpbb_sessions (session_id, session_user_id, session_start, session_time, session_ip, session_page, session_logged_in, session_admin) VALUES (’7900ec6a20082801c3ed5e2cc176727e’, -1, 1239455790, 1239455790, ‘d839a34e’, 0, 0, 0)

Line : 187
File : sessions.php

It’s a little ironic that an initiative established to help companies know which open source projects have momentum and are trustworthy has neither momentum nor reliable, up-to-date information. Oh well.

I was much more encouraged by the direction and momentum of Coverity’s Architecture Library. It provides quick insights into a project’s feature set, but not exactly what I’m after. I’m looking more at how to choose from my list of potential solutions.

Hands-down, David Wheeler has compiled the most comprehensive document for evaluation.  It’s also the most up-to-date (revised March 14, 2009). It’s a little overwhelming for the scale I’m working on, but has a well-thought out methodology for a high-stakes decision with the budget to do this level of research.

On a pratical level, my favorite insights came Matt Johnston, a JAVA engineer. He suggests:

  1. studying the documentation
  2. checking the community for activity outside the sponsoring company
  3. reviewing the project lifetime and release cycle
  4. and looking for signs of momentum (this is much more important for younger projects)

For example, with last release date of 2005, osCommerce, by his criteria, is dead and does not have momentum. Magento Commerce, on the other hand, is backed by a business model and has had two major version since it’s 2007 launch. It is also being talked about a lot in the community.

I found some great insights from the comments on a CIO article, Evaluating an Open-Source Project’s Business Model. In addition to Matt’s ideas, these insights included:

  1. checking for formal support
  2. a roadmap that can be influenced by the community
  3. ISV endorsements
  4. partners
  5. and local user groups.

Interestingly, the comment authors’ companies (Pentaho, Alfresco, etc.) I’ve seen pop-up in articles in many places online, signs of active, vibrant open source companies.
Finally, Keith Harrison-Broninski recommends:

  1. looking for a standard license (especially important for corporate adoption)
  2. number of committers who post regular updates
  3. and whether the project is backed by major VCs or companies.

I’m now going to conquer my current problems with these insights. Enjoy.

Mar

5

New Facebook Homepage and Status Updates on Pages

Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Genealogy to Family History to FamilyLearn, Technology

If you’ve logged into Facebook recently or have seen this webcast, you know a new Facebook home page design and status updates on Pages are coming this week. The new homepage is centered around sorting information from people important to you — family (I’d be nervous if I were We’re Related on this one as this level of integration might render them a lot less relevant), coworkers, friends and public figures (new home page tour). The new page design allows page owners to communicate to their fans via news feeds.

AllFacebook.com represents the new change with the following graphic.

You are at the center, viewing the information you want. We are already working on great ideas for integrating these features into our new Facebook application, Status King (as status updates are now more central to Facebook, there are real benefits for Status King) and our future application, MemoryPress. I want to mention a couple things on both here.

Immediate Status King Changes

Appropriately, the text prompting status updates is becoming “What’s on your mind?” rather than “What are you doing right now?” I suspect this is to reflect the way people are sharing links, information, insights, jokes and more via their status updates. Our hot new Status Tees will need to have an option to include the new phrase.

MemoryPress

MemoryPress fans know that we’re planning to bring MemoryPress to Facebook. Used for years for retirements, weddings, anniversaries, etc., we’re anticipating some great ways for MemoryPress to leverage the new segregation of friends, family, coworkers and public figures on the home page, because that’s the way our books have naturally organized themselves over the years.

We’re excited for how these changes will roll over into the API and what developers can do with the Facebook platform.

Dec

6

Depression, War, Famine - A Personal Solution

Filed Under Home, Family and Church, Ideas and Thoughts

As a backdrop, we are living in unique times and the challenges our generation faces are not a few:

At church, in the community, when I talk to siblings, everywhere I go, the conversation tends to be skittish and fearful.  The study of the scriptures and Elder Christofferson’s recent address about Zion, has brought new insight into how Zion will protect us during difficult times as those we do and will face.

Elder Christofferson points out:

 Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, “the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen—Zion will come only as they happen.

Zion means being united because we choose to be, being holy and taking care of the poor.

His example of unity and the companion scripture from Isaiah is what lead me to my thoughts:

 At the end of July this year, young single adults from several countries in eastern Europe gathered outside Budapest, Hungary, for a conference. Among this group were 20 young men and women from Moldova who had spent days obtaining passports and visas and over 30 hours traveling by bus to get there. The conference program included some 15 workshops. Each person needed to select the two or three that he or she most wanted to attend. Rather than focus exclusively on their own interests, these Moldovan young adults got together and made plans so that at least one of their group would be in each class and take copious notes. Then they would share what they had learned with each other and later with the young adults in Moldova who could not attend. In its simplest form, this exemplifies the unity and love for one another that, multiplied thousands of times in different ways, will “bring again Zion” (Isaiah 52:8).

Awesome - in every sense of the word. This is not an assignment, this is a group of young people who understand that the principles of Zion are the best way for each of them.I followed the scripture in Isaiah and, with tears streaming down my face, I found myself reading 5 chapters rather than that just 52:8 (the chapters were Isaiah 52-56). Do the principles of Zion lead to:

Are not these the answers to the problems of our times? Do these words of Isaiah have the power to change the outcome of my life?

One morning in late September I woke to start a new day and - after having about everything that could possibly go wrong in that month go wrong - I stood on the cold wood floor of our home thinking about the news, the prophecies and the financial debacle. All the random details seemed to sink in and a deep realization hit me that we are probably headed for something on the scale of the Great Depression.

Surprisingly, deep inside my soul, the realization had the exact opposite impact on me as I expected - instead of despair, I felt hope. Instead of fear, I felt faith. Instead of confusion, peace. It was almost as if I heard inside of me, “this is your time. This is your lot. Lift!”

Then I thought to myself, with a smile as it were, “It’s time to get to work!” I felt happy.

I haven’t written about this for so long because I’ve been hard at work. In the midst of so many things going wrong at the time, I have since asked myself, “why this unexpected reaction? Where did that come from?”

I really don’t know for sure, but it’s real. I feel grattitude that I have the chance to help my family and my friends through such a time. I feel so optimistic about the future.

If I were to put my finger on it, I would pin the reaction to something to do with Zion in her infancy and with the peace of her children.

I would credit my Father and Mother’s struggle to stay together during difficult times. A 3am college application with Mom. My in-laws resilience. My Grandpa Harmon’s tireless work on homes. My Grandparents financial assistance. Aunt Lillian’s car. Theron’s Rupert home. Michelle’s phone calls. Tod’s lumber. Ty’s tomatoes and canner. Daniel’s vegetables and cash.  Jeffrey’s call to help a brother with work. Dallin and Troy and Toby’s service. Jenny’s notes. Truman’s, Jordan’s, Kaylisha’s, etc. unpaid babysitting and cleaning. Family.

One half a table. Children waiting for remaining food after the missionaries were fed. A fridge from an unknown sender. An officer rolling up his sleeves to change a tire. Huge smiles on Christmas mornings filled with gifts from thoughtful others. Farmers digging beets together. Snow shovels. Empty garbage cans. Warm homes/beds. Grateful satisfied stomachs. Community.

The Lord’s words through Isaiah do have the power to pull us through these times. Zion is the answer. These words are for me. They are for you. They are for those who haven’t heard them. Let’s share them.

“Come to Zion.”

Dec

1

What Christmas is Really About

Filed Under Ideas and Thoughts

You must watch this before heading for your gifts this year! 

Dec

1

Atlas Shrugged

Filed Under Free Book Summary - Online, Freedom, Government, Politics, etc.

John recommended Atlas Shrugged to me last week and I bought the Audible version to listen to while I work. While I found the writing superb and the story-line thought-provoking, I quit listening to it 6 hours into the 50+ hours program. I felt like I knew where the book was headed and, as a novel, was more about entertainment than communicating me the ideas succinctly. I don’t have time for it right now. I am focusing on content that is helping me as an entrepreneur right now and decided against this one. Maybe down the road.

Dec

1

Jing Project

Filed Under Technology

I started using the Jing Project for screen captures and voice over and I’m very pleased with it. The sharing integration is fantastic, simple, and easy-to-use.

Nov

1

It’s a small world

Filed Under Education and Love for Learning

Perhaps because I believe that we’re all brothers and sisters on this great planet, this video really touched me.

Oct

12

24inches near Burley, Declo and Albion!

Filed Under Home, Family and Church

I promised photos. Here are my two favorites from this morning. I measured 23 1/4 inches on our dumpster and 24 1/2 on the ground at 6am. The snow is falling only lightly now.

Dumpster


View slide show of this mornings photos.

Originally uploaded by nealsharmon

Oct

12

Record Snow Storm in Eastern Idaho

Filed Under Home, Family and Church

At 5:15am d I woke thinking about the fact my Elder’s quorum president had called to tell me that church was cancelled. I looked outside and realized that the snow had continued to dump during the night. The trees were sagging terribly and I started wondering what the day would bring. What are possible ways to help in this storm?

All I could find were some simple after storm actions.

Does anyone know if I should be doing anything to help out in this storm or should I just sit tight?

I’m thinking about my friend, Rick Wrigley, who said last Friday when we played basketball in the morning that he might have a third of his beets out of the ground.

I found the following information on the storm via the web:

Statement as of 01:43 am MDT on October 12, 2008 … Record daily maximum rainfall set at Burley ID… a record rainfall of 0.73 inch(es) was set at Burley ID yesterday. This breaks the old record of 0.34 set in 1984. Source.

Apparently the warning continues until 6pm. I checked the radio for news. I don’t know the stations very well because I didn’t listen to the radio.

At 6am I went out and shoveled the walk, took a few photos and measured the snow on our trash bin with a golf club. I measured anywhere from 23 1/4 inches on the trash to 24 1/2 on the ground. I’ll update this with photos.

Oct

4

Opportunity Knocks and it’s not Paulson’s $700 Billion

Filed Under Business Ideas, Resources, Principles, etc., Entrepreneurship, Freedom, Government, Politics, etc., Ideas and Thoughts

Last week, as my blood boiled when I thought of the freedoms we might loose as a result of the $700 billion transfer of power to the secretary of the treasury, I found myself reading articles, trying to understand what was happening, learning whether I could make a difference. It felt like a worthwhile thing to do, after all, the future of our country was on the line.

Then I read Seth Godin’s post on looking for an opportunity to do less, which hit home for me. I decided to write and call my senators and representatives and then forget about the housing crisis. Stop reading the articles. Stop wasting my time on something I had no power over.

Instead, I spend my time on our company and my family.

In a conversation with a good friend, he spoke of how wonderful a time this is to start a company. As the job market softens it will be easier to attract good talent to your team. He recently spoke with a technical leader in a large organization. Their research suggests that their ability to hire new programmers is going to surge in two months, not because they will have more resources, but because people will be looking for the work. He also commented that competition is so worried about their our cashflow problems and margin pressure that you have a chance to really grow if you dig in and work.

It’s a marvelous time to build a business, attract talent, stay lean and provide value to society.

So, the only reading I will be doing is studying the previous financial crashes historically to understand where is the best direction to steer our business. Did you know that the movie business thrived during the Great Depression? People needed an escape during difficult times…so they went to the movies. There are silver linings on the darkest of clouds. I thank Seth for reminding me to look at mine.

Hope.

That’s what President Uchtdorf called it today. Just saying that word makes me feel better.


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