OS Communities

Since I stepped down from MNFI community manager’s position in our last community meeting, I’ve been focusing on Local Device Program (LDP) . What is LDP? In brief, it’s a local version of Community Device Program (CDP) described in MeeGo wiki.  Furthermore, LDP is a pilot project defined and tested in Tampere. We have defined device loaning criteria, process and management. At the moment we are finishing the application form, program description and device listing in MNFI portal. You can read more about LDP from my previous blog entry and from MNFI portal.

I stumbled upon Randall’s blog entry So what is a “Platform or Device Champion”? and it gave me an idea for this blog entry. Two issues raised in my mind: how does device champion relate to LDP? What are the differences between community device program and LDP?

Device Champions and LDP managers

I noticed that Randall describes Device Champions as follows:

Any community member passionate enough to act as a volunteer focal point for platforms or individual devices. That means researching, blogging, presenting, forum posting, leading discussions on email lists, and any similar highly visible activity in the community space. Platform or device champions need not be a subject matter expert or developer but should always be willing to help find one. Note that a Champion may or not be a Recipient. This not an elected or selected position; if you want to help, just do it!

Randall continues to define some bullet points, which might give a little more insight:

• It’s not a formal or paid position. It’s not really a position at all, and strictly volunteer
• Typical descriptive terms are eagerness, leadership, initiative, sharing
• Champions can volunteer to assist with individual devices or entire device platforms
• Persons in the role can help define the role

After reading Randall’s blog entry I started to wonder how this relates to LDP managers. LDP managers are people who are managing the device loaning applications & process, device storage, maintenance, etc. In other words, they take care of pretty much everything. To me LDP managers sound pretty much like Device Champions. Of course LDP is still looking for the final form and things might change in the future.

Now,  let’s take a look at the differences between community device program and local device program.

CDP vs LDP

Both programs aim for same result: getting devices to developers and get more action in application development. Intention is to make developers happy. The goal of CDP is

to put together a framework that makes it very easy for  anyone to contribute devices and have them go to the most qualified community members in exchange for some commitment to do something cool with the device.

LDP shares the same goal, but with local twist:

create a device program with lightweight bureaucracy which operates only locally. [...] LDP is intended to create activity around projects, which involves devices.

Both programs seem to have similar goal, but the methods and practices differ. First of all, in LDP devices are not shipped anywhere. Any registered MNFI member can apply for a device and if accepted they collect devices from storage location (at the moment from Tampere only). Secondly, device providers are not involved in selecting accepted device requests. In other words, they don’t dictate requirements for device loaning. Thirdly, any kind of NDA’s are not involved. Fourthly, we store devices locally in one location, not around the world. This also means that devices can be distributed faster than compared to shipping around the globe. Fifthly, CDP process is maintained by MeeGo project / Linux Foundation. LDP process is maintained by MNFi, but local networks run their own programs. In other words, MNFI coordinates the local efforts and develops the process, local networks execute the plans. Finally, LDP loan process is lightweight; as little bureaucracy as possible.

As stated above, Tampere will function as pilot and if other cities in Finland (or elsewhere) wish to do same, we are happy to assist.

An idea of local device program (LDP) has been lurking in my mind for at least 5 months now. Actions to enable ‘hacker lounge’ kind of activity in Tampere New Factory were initiated already  months ago. The aftershock of 2/11 did have an affect on this too. Things have been a bit like hanging in the air. We did receive devices from Nokia already, but those devices are not part of hacker/developer activity now. The devices are either in a box or in the hands of end-users for ‘testing’. Reason for that is simple. There has not been anyone pushing this kind of efforts, no one has been named to be responsible for this, neither has anyone claimed the ownership (as it goes in Open Source) of this project. That needs to change. I’m willing to build this local device program and see how it could run. Perhaps if it a success, perhaps not. Whatever the result is, experience would extend our knowledge about organizing such activities locally. If it would be a success, the model could be replicated around the world. One thing is sure though. We need support from local companies and device vendors, either monetary or hardware.

Purpose

LDP is related to our (Finnish) other efforts to change or renew MeeGo activities described in my previous blog entry about Local Development Ecosystem.The need for LDP has not gone away. On the contrary, more and more often I hear developers (working on different platforms such as MeeGo, Android, WebOS, iOS) desperately crying out for devices for development and testing. The MeeGo project has global device program described in wiki.meego.com and in Randall’s email. LDP extends that program by adding another way for developers to get their hands on devices. In other words, intention is not to replace MeeGo project global efforts, but create an option with lightweight bureaucracy which operates only locally. IMO such programs (meego global device program and LDP) will become more and more important in the near future, when (hopefully) multiple vendors push MeeGo devices into markets. In brief, I wish to build activity around projects, which involves devices. Hacking without devices is like hmmm….making pizza without dough, messy and fun but without meaningful results.

Scope

LDP is not just about MeeGo. I wish to extend device program to include also other operating systems. MeeGo Networks will still remain focused on MeeGo, but we don’t spit on developer who wishes to do some exploration related to some other operating systems too. Narrowing scope or tying developers hands to so called ‘meego devices’ (what ever those might be) or to limit options in search for inspiration and ideas would be against the spirit of Open Source. The less limitations, the more options. If a developer is willing to discover strengths and weaknesses of for example another great Linux based OS and share that knowledge to others, who are we to say no? I’m hacker and a little bit anarchist by nature, and I resist artificial boundaries which are build on trademarks and such. I admit that some rules must be obeyed, but that’s another issue. That’s easy for me to say, since I have no ties to any corporation. I wish to keep our local networks too as independent as possible. Same applies to hardware. Intention is to get wide variety of different devices to hack, not just those which have been tested with MeeGo. I’d love to see experiments on hardware, which might at first seem nearly impossible to run MeeGo and eventually find a way to go around. Another great thing would be building devices by our selves. I know that would require possibly a little more efforts, but hey, people in hackerspaces do that all the time too. Open Source and hacking culture is not about bureaucracy and restrictions, it’s about breaking the boundaries and most important about freedom. Freedom to explore, participate, contribute and incremental development.

Process in a nutshell

Below is another ugly process diagram. A few words about that.

Developer contacts local MeeGo network (organizer) and briefly introduces project idea and need for devices. This is not supposed to be heavy document or full blown project description, but a simple form in meegonetwork.fi community portal.  Then developer signs loan agreement, which is by the way already defined and tested in New Factory activities. In other words, that part is ready in Tampere context. Devices are stored in New Factory facilities, where MNFI has lockable storages. Different vendors are encouraged to donate devices, hardware, components and even money which will be used for buying equipment and other needed items. Device loan time will be rather long (for example 6 months). Then developer uses the device(s) in Open Source project. Intention is also to extend projects to include open hardware related activities, which enables new device innovations. Projects will produce multiple outputs, which benefits whole ecosystem including device vendors, OS and application development and community.

Status and future

I and some other members (Jukka and Matti) of MeeGo Network Finland did have unofficials discussion about LDP with various people in the Meego Conference 2011 in San Francisco. The initial response was good and inspiring. Support for this kind of efforts was given. Agreement about testing LDP concept in Tampere was also agreed, again unofficially and behind the curtains. This program is not official part of MeeGo project, at least not yet. In the following weeks, I will start pushing LDP forward. This is call for action and that includes you.