I like to write posts about using Linux and open source most likely because I show how much I don’t know but how I really want to learn. I told a friend of mine once I classified myself as a habiilis or tool user and he agreed. I’m not a terribly adept scripter or coder but I’ve managed groups of developers and consultants and I’ve learned a few interesting facts about how Linux is done (or not) in a few settings. One of the places on and off since 1999 I’ve played is Linux startups. I was talking with a friend at Visa that’s a recruiter today and we were laughing about how these companies juxtaposition themselves, make themselves relevant, build incredible offerings, and even social ideologies. But the one thing that they don’t seem able to do is build themselves a conscience and morality and honesty. I’ve worked, played, learned, hated, and left a few of these companies. I think there is a commonality between many of them. They all think they’re the best until the 5th restructuring or the 2nd cease and desist legal suit. In the case of my favorite star-crossed Linux startup; we accomplished both. Linuxcare just was and the memory is still fresh.
But, as usual I digress. Since I am a habilis and tool user, I rate things on how well they satisfy my needs and whether the tools presented integrate, offer, and let me build. Habilis like to build using the tools. In some ways, the Linux toolkit seems somewhat adverse to this with the classical “tool for every job” mentality. But that’s changing and it has to. To make Linux adoption happen on the desktop; we cannot tell new users that they must learn how to manage 5000 unique tools and they don’t talk to each other - ever. No, dear readers, we must go and further and do more. New users want to learn; but the path cannot be incomprehensible. Operating systems are judged by the user base and not by the complexity of the tools or the pureness of the message. That’s why I kinda left Debian and went to Ubuntu. I simply love Debian and its community; but I am a tool user. I need fresh tools, new tools. I must learn how they work. Simply put if a tool ceases to be a tool, my mantra is to leave it behind. It may mean I go use Windows XP because it has tools I like or tools I need. There are cool and good applications on them all.
Taking it to the streets; we can all learn from what we choose to use whether its a computer, an idea, a plan. An old friend, RWR, once told me “you have to know where you are and what you are doing”. I always remembered that. Its a great chant when I wonder or am unclear. RWR always knew and I admired, respected, and even loved him for it. He had “presence”. Finally put, have you ever met someone with presence? A person who just knew? He could be equally at home in the desert, a fancy bar or a hotel where we tramped in one evening dirty from the field. The hotel attendant believed we were “scum of da earth” and prepared to eject us. Until RWR presented a corporate AMEX card and charged 5 rooms, food, beer. It was a moment of presence.
I have a feeling though that the crop of open source companies I still see do not have presence at any great level. They seem to still believe the press about themselves. They still chant and sing the song egotistical. Its okay. What you have done will soon pass too.
