Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2001 00:55:25 -0600 From: Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com> To: Ted Mittelstaedt <tedm@toybox.placo.com> Cc: Eric Wayte <ewayte@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu>, freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG, freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: FreeBSD Mall now BSDCentral Message-ID: <3B4560DD.428634F8@softweyr.com> References: <000701c10452$ca818600$1401a8c0@tedm.placo.com>
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Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
>
> If WindRiver gets on the ball and keeps fulfilling CD orders, why then this
> name might continue to be worth something. Otherwise, it will go away and
> the FreeBSD CD distributions will simply take place through other
> distributors.
Or not, if every other distributor that actually cares to distribute
FreeBSD has dried up and blown away because WRS has been handing out
exclusive access to the "official" FreeBSD ISO images.
> This in some ways is even more desirable because as long as
> Walnut Creek was around, there was no demand for FreeBSD distributions at
> places like Linux Central, thus those places didn't even carry it.
You're assuming that not having Walnut Creek around is going to be
good for Linux Central, or good for FreeBSD? I personally wouldn't
give a bucket of warm spit for Linux Central's well being, but am quite
worried about the well being of FreeBSD in the near future.
> Is it _bad_ for a Linux CD distributor to be selling FreeBSD copies?
> No, and it also gives the Project more advertising.
But that's not what the situation is. Let's be truthful here, Ted,
and ask "Is it _bad_ for WRS to award exclusive distribution contracts
without the permission of the FreeBSD contributors? Is it bad for WRS
to award these to a Linux site, leaving one or more very interested
BSD distributors twisting in the wind? Is it _bad_ for WRS to simply
flush the long-standing distribution arrangements without any fore-
warning, leaving hundreds of people wondering where their orders are?"
Yes, all of the above are bad, and they're a sign of an even worse
problem. FreeBSD has done well for the past 8 years due in large part
because it an energetic and persuasive "product manager" in the person
of Jordan K. Hubbard pushing, cajoling, and badgering the CD-ROM
product through the arduous steps of production. Those who think
this process happens on auto-pilot are deluded; it has to be baby-
stepped through every time.
For very good reason, Jordan is no longer in a position to do this. We
as the FreeBSD community need to decide what we're going to do about
this, and we need to decide before another disastrous release cycle
happens. WRS does not have any legal standing to create such a closed
and exclusive distribution arrangement, FreeBSD is *our* product, not
theirs. *WE* need to decide what *WE* want to do about this, and move
along in an orderly fashion, or *WE* will lose the ability to do any-
thing about it.
Specifically, we need a Product Manager who can shepherd FreeBSD through
the release process, and coordinate with CD-ROM distributor(s) who are
interested in producing and selling CDs, DVDs, etc of the "official"
FreeBSD distribution.
I've directed replies to -hackers because this issue is of concern to
the entire FreeBSD community.
--
"Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?"
Wes Peters Softweyr LLC
wes@softweyr.com http://softweyr.com/
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