Hello everybody, hope everything's fine for you today !
Quick introduction: I am Nicolas, 19, freshman and I know very little about Computer Science. Keyboard, screen, software and hardware are terms that I can explain but that's pretty much all about my knowledge in this domain![:sweatdrop:]()
. However, I am studying economics and know quite a bit about psychology and other Social Sciences. I know that learning is beneficial for people in many ways. This basic assumption leads me to imagine a relatively achievable project for improving education. That's it for the intro.
This project requires developing a software. My lack of credentials in software development combined to the peculiarity of the idea and the copyright laws have made me believe that commercial/traditional software developer companies would not bother discuss the idea with me, and even less develop it. "Socially-sensitive" software developer companies or associations seem not be willing to collaborate neither (or have problem with answering emails![:mellow:]()
). This made me think to Open Source communities but there again problems exist :
-the final phases of the project require services that cannot be Open and Free like the software, requiring either creation of a privately-held company or some commercial partnership with existing companies. Basically, the software would be developed with Open source technics, but published and managed commercially. I believe this mix promises to be an unsolvable mess of legal and licensing problems if one is to hope that the project does not end up as a failure as exceptional as its potential.
-as the only/lonely champion of this idea and as I do not have enough background knowledge in Computer Science, I have little if any ability/authority to (kick)start a project on such Open projects hosters as SourceForge and others. I am learning as fast as I can in the domain, but it will take years before I learn enough to offer a viable embryo of project to the Open Source that will make them join in the project.
So finally, I have thought about a good old method: gather a team of skilled developers to discuss and work on the project on a voluntary but involved basis (the team being closed to outside's input). I know the boundary between the 2 methods of development is ambiguous but I hope you see the difference from a developer's point of view. At some point or for some parts an Open Source project holder might be necessary, and the fact that there is already a team behind the project can help involve other people. This method seems the best in my opinion, but then again team members have to be found.
For the record, I won't be of any help (in the software development part at least). Considering that, I do not intend to make profit from the project (this is a personal choice).
It would be reasonably stupid to ask "Sooo, who's in ?![:D]()
" right now. No, as the title of this topic implies, I would like to have advices about how I should manage that project.
More clearly : do you think I should:
1) scout forums to gather team members ?
2) start an open source project describing my idea on SourceForge and alike ?
3) keep dropping the idea on various websites, forums, companies, ... and hoping that some will have abilities and willingness to develop, improve, transform it and bring this to reality ? (and therefore renouncing to any right on the idea, which I am ready to do even though I'd rather participate in some way)
If you think (1), do you have any advice for me such as where should I post my idea in this forum and what other forums/communities do you advise me to contact and join ?
If you think (2), do you have any advice for me such as which Open Source project hosters I should join ?
If you think (3), what forums, communities, companies would be most receptive to my idea according to you ?
I think that's pretty much it so far. I am looking forward to have your opinions !![:bigsmile:]()
Have a good day !
Nicolas
Quick introduction: I am Nicolas, 19, freshman and I know very little about Computer Science. Keyboard, screen, software and hardware are terms that I can explain but that's pretty much all about my knowledge in this domain
. However, I am studying economics and know quite a bit about psychology and other Social Sciences. I know that learning is beneficial for people in many ways. This basic assumption leads me to imagine a relatively achievable project for improving education. That's it for the intro.This project requires developing a software. My lack of credentials in software development combined to the peculiarity of the idea and the copyright laws have made me believe that commercial/traditional software developer companies would not bother discuss the idea with me, and even less develop it. "Socially-sensitive" software developer companies or associations seem not be willing to collaborate neither (or have problem with answering emails
). This made me think to Open Source communities but there again problems exist : -the final phases of the project require services that cannot be Open and Free like the software, requiring either creation of a privately-held company or some commercial partnership with existing companies. Basically, the software would be developed with Open source technics, but published and managed commercially. I believe this mix promises to be an unsolvable mess of legal and licensing problems if one is to hope that the project does not end up as a failure as exceptional as its potential.
-as the only/lonely champion of this idea and as I do not have enough background knowledge in Computer Science, I have little if any ability/authority to (kick)start a project on such Open projects hosters as SourceForge and others. I am learning as fast as I can in the domain, but it will take years before I learn enough to offer a viable embryo of project to the Open Source that will make them join in the project.
So finally, I have thought about a good old method: gather a team of skilled developers to discuss and work on the project on a voluntary but involved basis (the team being closed to outside's input). I know the boundary between the 2 methods of development is ambiguous but I hope you see the difference from a developer's point of view. At some point or for some parts an Open Source project holder might be necessary, and the fact that there is already a team behind the project can help involve other people. This method seems the best in my opinion, but then again team members have to be found.
For the record, I won't be of any help (in the software development part at least). Considering that, I do not intend to make profit from the project (this is a personal choice).
It would be reasonably stupid to ask "Sooo, who's in ?
" right now. No, as the title of this topic implies, I would like to have advices about how I should manage that project.More clearly : do you think I should:
1) scout forums to gather team members ?
2) start an open source project describing my idea on SourceForge and alike ?
3) keep dropping the idea on various websites, forums, companies, ... and hoping that some will have abilities and willingness to develop, improve, transform it and bring this to reality ? (and therefore renouncing to any right on the idea, which I am ready to do even though I'd rather participate in some way)
If you think (1), do you have any advice for me such as where should I post my idea in this forum and what other forums/communities do you advise me to contact and join ?
If you think (2), do you have any advice for me such as which Open Source project hosters I should join ?
If you think (3), what forums, communities, companies would be most receptive to my idea according to you ?
I think that's pretty much it so far. I am looking forward to have your opinions !
Have a good day !
Nicolas