Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
free-software-is-serious-business [2019/11/10 19:35] admin |
free-software-is-serious-business [2022/06/26 21:01] rijk [Be part of the pack] |
||
---|---|---|---|
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
====== 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 ===== | ||
Line 14: | Line 16: | ||
//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 [[https:// |
- | * To be accepted, we must offer our Free Software Solutions in a solid framework where contracts, invoicing, etc. are according to legal standards. | + | * To be accepted, we must offer our Free Software Solutions in a solid corporate |
==== 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. | ||
- | * In a “Libre Business Model”, business partners cooperate to deliver a Free Software Solution in united responsibility, | + | * In a Libre Business Model, business partners cooperate to deliver a Free Software Solution in united responsibility, |
* 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. | ||
- | * The “Libre Business Model” dictates financial transparency and non-exploitive | + | * The Libre Business Model dictates financial transparency and non-exploitative |
* To discourage shady deals by unsolicited men-in-the-middle, | * To discourage shady deals by unsolicited men-in-the-middle, | ||
- | * Money is made, not abundant at the expense of our fellows, but sufficient to financially compensate Business Partners fairly for their community services. | + | * Money is made, not abundant at the expense of our fellows, but sufficient to financially compensate |
- | * 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. | ||
- | * Shareholder value is not a monetary entity, but an ethical commitment | + | * Shareholder value is not a monetary entity, but the shared |
==== Help Free Software Professionals ==== | ==== Help Free Software Professionals ==== | ||
Line 35: | Line 37: | ||
//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 ==== | ||
Line 46: | Line 48: | ||
* 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” is an antidote for exploiting | + | * A Libre Business Model values the |
===== Designing a Libre Business Model ===== | ===== Designing a Libre Business Model ===== | ||
Line 52: | Line 54: | ||
//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. | + | * 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> | + | * 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:// | ||
Line 75: | Line 77: | ||
//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:// | ||
- | * Member organizations (Residents) are entitled to free, as in "free beer", [[https:// | + | * Community |
* A flexible [[https:// | * A flexible [[https:// | ||
Line 85: | Line 87: | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
- | * [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
- | * [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
- | ==== Legal Guardian | + | ==== Legal Steward |
// | // | ||
Line 96: | Line 98: | ||
* Dutch tax law allows Datraverse to transfer money to individual professionals who don't have a legal business entity themselves. | * Dutch tax law allows Datraverse to transfer money to individual professionals who don't have a legal business entity themselves. | ||
* 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' | ||
- | * Dutch Tax Office does not need a list of money transfers to persons outside The Netherlands. Persons are responsible to handle | + | * Dutch Tax Office does not need a list of money transfers to persons outside The Netherlands. Persons are responsible to handle |
==== 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. | ||
Line 110: | Line 112: | ||
==== 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 . . .// | ||
Line 147: | Line 142: | ||
=== Links === | === Links === | ||
- | * [[https:// | ||
- | * [[https:// | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[http:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
* [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||