From the 'Strategies for Success' files:
One persistent topic that crops up at many open source conferences is a discussion of what it takes to be successful.
At the LinuxCon conference (Webcast from Portland), Intel's Dirk Hohndel, chief Linux and open source technologist, gave what I thought was one of the best versions of the 'how to be successful in open source' talks I've ever heard.
Hohndel used Linux as his model for how to be successful.
His basic premise is that a combination of innovation, vision, focus and persistence are the keys to success. If you're lacking in any of those key areas, the project isn't likely to succeed.
It makes a lot of sense to me.
Ideas alone just aren't enough if you don't have the skills and determination to build momentum.
One persistent topic that crops up at many open source conferences is a discussion of what it takes to be successful.
At the LinuxCon conference (Webcast from Portland), Intel's Dirk Hohndel, chief Linux and open source technologist, gave what I thought was one of the best versions of the 'how to be successful in open source' talks I've ever heard.
Hohndel used Linux as his model for how to be successful.
His basic premise is that a combination of innovation, vision, focus and persistence are the keys to success. If you're lacking in any of those key areas, the project isn't likely to succeed.
"Whenever you think you found a niche, you will find that someone else is already doing it," Hohndel said. "Linus is not the first to come up with an open source operating system but he managed to shine. When it comes to vision there are lots of missionaries out there, I can't turn on the TV without meeting 25 of them."Hohndel added that vision is critical but it's easy because anyone can make stuff up. You need the competence to implement and you need to know how to get to where you want.
It makes a lot of sense to me.
Ideas alone just aren't enough if you don't have the skills and determination to build momentum.
That's where open source can also help for adoption. If a project, like Linux does become successful, it provides more incentive for users to use the application as a way of future proofing their technology investment.
Hohndel noted that when IBM decided to discontinue its OS/2 operating system, there were many enterprises (including a German Bank that he was working for) that were left hanging.
"Open source means that will never happen to you," Hohndel said.Even if one particular vendor or developer failed, since the project code is open an enterprise could continue on with a particular technology if they so choose.
In the final analysis, the success of a project is really all about users and giving them what they want.
"You need to think about your whole vision and you need to go where others haven't gone," Hohndel said. "You actually have to listen to the user and when user says this isn't what I wanted ... the answer should be why."
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