introduction

[Derek Neighbors]

> On Fri, 2003-05-16 at 11:03, Craig White wrote:
>> I have a rather interesting situation with a client of mine. They are
>> a non-profit mental health provider - the Executive Director is Ray
>> Grey <mailto:r.grey@tobyhouse.com> I have included him in the
>> distribution of this email.
>>
>> Anyway, I think he agrees with me that the best path for a non-profit
>> corporation to go is open source/free software and he does have a
>> die-hard Windows guy as president of the board of directors.

There are things that Free Software is far superior at and areas that Free
Software is still lagging behind.  It is not fair to classify those
championing Free Software as zealots or those wanting to go with the
status quo (Microsoft) as die-hards.  I suspect in this situation there
will be much compromise on both sides.

I suspect the president of the board is an educated and well respected
business minded individual.  There is a saying "No one ever got fired for
choosing IBM (Microsoft)".  There is certain prudence in choosing the
known.  It will be an uphill battle, but I suspect you will be able to
"educate" all parties in the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

>> Apparently the issue comes down to his belief that there aren't any
>> Linux programmers around. Imagine that!

Let's be frank.  A good programmer is a good programmer regardless of
operating system.  Much the same way a good singer is a good singer
regardless of the genre of music they choose to sing, an artist a good
artist in any medium.

This statement is a kin to saying .NET is doomed because there are no .NET
programmers.  The truth is computers are ever evolving.  At one time there
were no Visual Basic programmers or no Java programmers.  Certainly that
didnt mean there were no programmers.

The largest taught computer science programming language in universities
today is JAVA.  It is the fastest growing programming language and has one
(if not the) largest pool of developers.  It's roots are in Unix and runs
on Unix/Linux, so I guess that means there are no Java programmers?  The
operating system like the programming language are simply a tool for the
developer.

I can understand reservations about GNU/Linux, but lack of programmers is
an illogical one.  In fact, if you develop with Python, Java, Perl or the
likes you will be cross platform anyhow.  Making the operating system
largely irrelevant to the programming tasks at hand.

>> They are in central Phoenix.
>>
>> I told him that there were many Linux programmers around and if I put
>> the word out on just one mail list (PLUG), that he would likely be
>> inundated with people, capable and willing and most likely resumes. I
>> can't guarantee that anyone will get a programming assignment...it may
>> ultimately end up at an over priced Windows integrator.

It is only partially true that Windows integrator's are overpriced. 
Largely its the hardware and licensing fees that their solutions bring
that are truly overpriced.  Not the people themselves.

>> The project involves collection of data into an SQL database and
>> sending electronic compilations of the data as billing data in HCFA
>> type blocks...multi-user and the user interface and the middleware is
>> not determined.

I suspect with this type of data one of the biggest stumbling blocks will
be HIPPA requirements.  This is an area where Free Sofware becomes
INVALUABLE.  Already the first service pack for Windows XP breaks HIPPA
laws.  In that by applying it you give Microsoft the right to access the
data on the machine it is installed on, potentially this could be patient
data protected by HIPPA legislation.

>> If you are interested, please send him an email - feel free to copy me
>> or don't copy me and that's fine.
>>
>> If you are a programmer but are currently involved in other projects
>> please drop him a short note just to let him know that there are Linux
>> programmers as this is a sticking point.

I am tied up doing too many things to do a full implementation.  I would
love to help you convince the powers that be that Free Software is a good
a choice and help come up with strategy.  I have no vested interest in
collecting any payment.  In fact, I would love to have Arizona Open
Technology Organization (AZOTO) look to help facilitate this in a case
study type of environment to help show other such entities that Free
Software is a good choice.

>> If you have questions, please feel free to send them to me.
>>
>> The big issue here, if I failed to make the point is that we have a
>> non-profit agency with a lot of Macintosh computers and no real
>> investment in Microsoft Windows hardware or software. It's obvious to
>> me that this is the right time to move to open source / free software
>> and the major obstacle to this is that they have a perception that
>> Linux programmers, integrators, system administrators etc. are not
>> readily identifiable...stand up and be counted and you will make a
>> difference in the perception of decision makers.

I tend to agree with them there are not large visible bodies of support,
integrators, etc in the Valley.  That doesn't mean they don't exist.  They
just are not largely visible.

Derek Neighbors
GNU Enterprise
http://www.gnuenterprise.org
derek@gnue.org