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free-software-is-serious-business [2019/05/19 23:38] rijk [Fair Share] |
free-software-is-serious-business [2021/06/24 10:42] rijk [Results] |
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====== Free Software is Serious Business ====== | ====== Free Software is Serious Business ====== | ||
- | By [[mailto:rijkr@datraverse.com|Rijk Ravestein]] - Owner of Datraverse. | + | //A Libre Business Model by Example// |
+ | |||
+ | By [[rijkr@datraverse.com|Rijk Ravestein]] - Owner of Datraverse. | ||
===== Introduction ===== | ===== Introduction ===== | ||
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This paper explains why a Libre Business Model is needed, how its design came about and how the Free Software Practice works. | This paper explains why a Libre Business Model is needed, how its design came about and how the Free Software Practice works. | ||
- | \\ \\ | ||
===== Why a Libre Business Model is needed ===== | ===== Why a Libre Business Model is needed ===== | ||
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//Make it easy for organizations to adopt Free Software.// | //Make it easy for organizations to adopt Free Software.// | ||
- | * If we are serious about Free Software, we must also be serious about being accepted as sustainable solution providers in the now dominating | + | * If we are serious about Free Software, we must also be serious about being accepted as sustainable solution providers in the now dominating |
- | + | * To be accepted, we must offer our Free Software Solutions in a solid corporate | |
- | * To be accepted, we must offer our Free Software Solutions in a solid framework where contracts, invoicing, etc. are according to legal standards. | + | |
==== Ethics in, ethics out ==== | ==== Ethics in, ethics out ==== | ||
- | //Create Free Software with Freedom | + | //Create Free Software with Justice |
* The very same ethics that are fundamental to Free Software, must also be the core of our business conduct. | * The very same ethics that are fundamental to Free Software, must also be the core of our business conduct. | ||
- | + | | |
- | | + | |
* Business Partners are Free Agents and have the freedom to do business on their own account at all times. | * Business Partners are Free Agents and have the freedom to do business on their own account at all times. | ||
- | + | | |
- | | + | |
* To discourage shady deals by unsolicited men-in-the-middle, | * To discourage shady deals by unsolicited men-in-the-middle, | ||
- | + | | |
- | | + | * Since the standard of living is different in different parts of the world, and not every organization has the same financial resources, pricing may be too high for some. Therefore, motivated |
- | + | ||
- | * Since the standard of living is different in different parts of the world, and not every organization has the same financial resources, pricing may be too high for some. Therefore, motivated | + | |
* We invest in long-term commitment and sustainable relations to bring Free Software forward. | * We invest in long-term commitment and sustainable relations to bring Free Software forward. | ||
- | + | | |
- | | + | |
==== Help Free Software Professionals ==== | ==== Help Free Software Professionals ==== | ||
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//Help Free Software Professionals make a living by lowering the threshold for engaging in Free Software Development.// | //Help Free Software Professionals make a living by lowering the threshold for engaging in Free Software Development.// | ||
- | * There are many skilled and highly motivated Free Software Professionals around the world. Since there are very few brick-and-mortar | + | * There are many skilled and highly motivated Free Software Professionals around the world. Since there are very few full-time Free Software jobs, it is very hard for professionals to live their dream and make a living off Free Software. |
- | + | * A Libre Business Model enables Free Software Professionals to engage in development and support activities in a flexible way. Even a few hours spread over the week can be made worthwhile. | |
- | * A “Libre Business Model” enables Free Software Professionals to engage in development and support activities in a flexible way. Even a few hours spread over the week can be made worthwhile. | + | * Professionals can adopt a cautious strategy and watch for a tipping point where one could for instance cut down a regular |
- | + | ||
- | * Professionals can adopt a cautious strategy and watch for a tipping point where one could for instance cut down a regular | + | |
==== Prevent Tragedy of the Commons ==== | ==== Prevent Tragedy of the Commons ==== | ||
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* Organizations consuming Free Software as “free beer” act against their own interest. | * Organizations consuming Free Software as “free beer” act against their own interest. | ||
- | |||
* Producing Free software //does// have a cost in terms of effort and resources used. | * Producing Free software //does// have a cost in terms of effort and resources used. | ||
- | |||
* When costs are not compensated, | * When costs are not compensated, | ||
+ | * A Libre Business Model values the intrinsic motivation of Free Software producers and provides a framework in which they are compensated for their efforts and resources used. | ||
- | * A “Libre Business Model” is an antidote for exploiting intrinsic motivation, because it acknowledges that Free Software producers must be compensated for their efforts and resources used. | ||
- | |||
- | ---- | ||
===== Designing a Libre Business Model ===== | ===== Designing a Libre Business Model ===== | ||
//The Libre Business Model is an application of Free Software Design Patterns.// | //The Libre Business Model is an application of Free Software Design Patterns.// | ||
- | * Concepts like Decentralization, | + | * Concepts like Decentralization, |
- | + | * Likewise, a Libre Business Model is designed as a distributed federation of small business units, or individual professionals, | |
- | * Likewise, a Libre Business Model is designed as a distributed federation of small business units, or individual professionals, | + | * A distributed design facilitates fail-over capability. Partners can take over each others work when one of them is unavailable. This makes Free Software Support sustainable. |
- | + | * The Libre Business Model leans heavily on a [[wp> | |
- | * A distributed design facilitates fail-over capability. Partners can take over each others work when one of them is unavailable. This makes Free Software Support sustainable. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * The Libre Business Model leans heavily on a [[wp> | + | |
* [[http:// | * [[http:// | ||
- | ---- | ||
===== The Free Software Practice ===== | ===== The Free Software Practice ===== | ||
- | I am the owner, and in 2015 was the sole employee of [[https:// | + | I am the owner, and in 2015 was the sole employee of [[https:// |
As it happens Datraverse BV is also the owner and creator of [[https:// | As it happens Datraverse BV is also the owner and creator of [[https:// | ||
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//Business is fueled by recurring subscription fees from community member organizations.// | //Business is fueled by recurring subscription fees from community member organizations.// | ||
- | * Organizations | + | * Organizations |
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
- | + | | |
- | | + | |
* A flexible [[https:// | * A flexible [[https:// | ||
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* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
- | * [[https:// | + | ==== Legal Steward |
- | + | ||
- | * [[https:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ==== Legal Guardian | + | |
// | // | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
- | |||
* Development and Translation Partners sign the Fiduciary Licence Agreement (FLA) as created by the [[https:// | * Development and Translation Partners sign the Fiduciary Licence Agreement (FLA) as created by the [[https:// | ||
- | + | | |
- | | + | |
- | | + | |
* A list of money transfers to Dutch citizens is sent by Datraverse to Dutch Tax Office yearly. The money transfer total automatically appears as income on the person' | * A list of money transfers to Dutch citizens is sent by Datraverse to Dutch Tax Office yearly. The money transfer total automatically appears as income on the person' | ||
- | + | | |
- | | + | |
==== Results ==== | ==== Results ==== | ||
- | The Libre Software Practice has proved to work. Up till now the community | + | The Libre Software Practice has proved to work. To date, the SavaPage Community |
==== Ambitions ==== | ==== Ambitions ==== | ||
- | * Scale up to a federated practice in which many independent professionals can make a living by giving end-users a great SavaPage | + | * Scale up to a federated practice in which many independent professionals can make a living by giving end-users a great [[https:// |
* Inspire other Free Software Communities, | * Inspire other Free Software Communities, | ||
- | |||
* Hand the Libre Software Practice over to a younger generation. | * Hand the Libre Software Practice over to a younger generation. | ||
==== Strategy ==== | ==== Strategy ==== | ||
- | === Create your own level playing field === | + | > **Create your own level playing field** |
- | + | //" | |
- | //" | + | ---- |
- | + | > **Think big, act small** | |
- | === Think big, act small === | + | //" |
- | + | ---- | |
- | //" | + | > ** Learn by doing** |
- | + | //“An ounce of practice is generally worth more than a ton of theory.”// | |
- | === Learn by doing === | + | ---- |
- | + | > **Rely on your compass** | |
- | //“An ounce of practice is generally worth more than a ton of theory.”// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | === Rely on your compass | + | |
// “Liberty and Justice for All.”// | // “Liberty and Justice for All.”// | ||
- | + | ---- | |
- | + | > **Have hope and courage, be realistic** | |
- | === Have hope and courage, be realistic | + | //" |
- | + | ---- | |
- | //" | + | > **Be confident** |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | === Be confident | + | |
//FOSS now is the dominating software development paradigm.// | //FOSS now is the dominating software development paradigm.// | ||
- | |||
* Proprietary software vendors are fighting an uphill battle. | * Proprietary software vendors are fighting an uphill battle. | ||
//GNU/Linux now is the dominating OS.// | //GNU/Linux now is the dominating OS.// | ||
- | * Even “Microsoft Loves Linux” . . . | + | * Even “Microsoft Loves Linux” |
//Libre Business Models will follow . . .// | //Libre Business Models will follow . . .// | ||
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=== Links === | === Links === | ||
- | * [[https:// | ||
- | * [[https:// | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||