I mentioned taking a run at the walls of GNU/Linux last weekend, but maybe it’s more like little tiny baby steps. I’m thinking about how to write about this. One of my core goals with this site is to write about my progress in this move from Windows to GNU/Linux, but in what way? Technical details? Philosophical thoughts? Angsty ramblings?
I’m stalling because again the time has passed by and I don’t have time to properly get in to my subject. But I really hate to let the blog grow cold, and want to get in the habit of posting more often for y’all. At the same time I realize these kinds of posts aren’t especially helpful.
I’ve spent time posting several comments around the web, and maybe that’s where I should make a new entry here the first priority, but I think it’s good to participate in conversations. And with about a hundred blogs in my feed reader, there’s always so much stuff to keep up with, much of it very good and worthy of more attention.
So why don’t I flog this week’s FSM entry one more time? Amy Stephen kindly infused it with some discussion and promoted it on her blog, which hosts a good community of people discussing many topics, including something called Joomla!. At first I thought it might be some strange religion, but over time I’ve started to suspect it is free software of some kind, so that obviously makes it a worthy thing and clearly makes them good people.
Of course, belief in the free software movement as preached by myself and others might appear to be a religion to some. I’ve already demonstrated that I’ve drunk the “it’s-free-software-not-open-source” Kool-Aid, and dogma is an important part of any self-respecting religion or cult. Anyway, I’m still not sure what Joomla! is, or if I’m in danger of ending up on a street corner selling flowers by associating with this crowd, but I visit there anyway.
I think it’s a wise policy to not promise anything, but I’m still hoping for a more substantial post Real Soon Now. Maybe even tomorrow. (But don’t count on it. I’d hate to disappoint you, my intensely loyal and solid base of dedicated readers.)
Related: Does Free Software Taste Great, or is Open Source Less Filling?
7 Comments
More discussion ideas:
Novell/MS deal
CC wondering if it should create s/w licenses
Liberty vs Reciprocation (GPLv3 vs AFL/HPL/EUPL)
Why only one GPLv3 comment out of over 500 has been taken to committee so far – apparently.
9 November 2006 at 5:34 am
Thanks for the input, Crosbie. Kind of dangerous–this suggests I might hold and be able to convey an informed opinion in these areas. :-)
I was thinking of putting my $0.02 in to your conversation with Dave Crossland. Interesting topic and discussion that I need to read and think more on.
9 November 2006 at 4:19 pm
Hey Scott -
We are scheduling a Joomla! get together this weekend. We need someone with a VW Minivan to help out. It will only take a few hours. Please have the van gassed up and ready for action. All you have to do is drive.
The less you know, the better.
I have the blankets, ropes and handkerchiefs. Don’t sniff the handkerchief, especially when you are driving. Also, don’t worry if you hear a little screaming and see wiggling when we carry the “package” out of the house under the midnight moon. Resistance to Joomla! is futile, but people don’t necessarily know that, at first.
The Joomla! membership of over 60,000 happy open source Content Management System folks grows by about 150 people each day, so, there are many people driving VW vans all of the time. We do what we can to increase membership. It’s a volunteer force and we appreciate any able bodied people helping out.
Here are some cool sites community members have built:
Samuel Jackson – http://samuelljackson.com/
Tea Rose Garden – http://www.trosegarden.com/
Mitsubishi Motors – http://www.mitsubishi.com.pl/
Beat 102 103 FM – http://www.beat102103.com/
Canadian Rockies – http://www1.gocanadianrockies.com/
MTV Netherlands – http://www.mtv.nl/
Carlos E. Subero (19 year old artist) – http://LaCuria.com/
Right now, we are beta testing v 1.5 and many are doing different things to get it ready to roll. Joomla! is free as in beer and as in liberty and J! was my first head-over-heals open source crush and will always be close to my heart. I am guessing J! will go live February 1st-ish although the devs would love to make it happen before the holidays.
Perhaps a future FSM article? Maybe an interview with some of the developers?
Today is my Joomla! and my open source birthday, Scott, and you, unknowingly just gave me a very special gift! :) Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Amy
9 November 2006 at 10:53 pm
Unfortunately, I don’t have a VW Minivan. Just a ’98 Saturn, and I can tell you from experience that it doesn’t fit that many body-size packages. (That was from my last cult experience. Fool me once…)
Great idea about the interview! The trouble here is I have no idea how to do an interview. I asked another prominent freedom fighter if he would do an interview and he very graciously agreed, but I’ve been horrified that I’ve let several weeks go by without asking any questions. But it’s something I’m interested in, if someone is willing. Do I have to sacrifice a goat by the light of the harvest moon? Or how does one go about arranging something like that?
Thanks for the great comment and the links–I’ll check them out later. I’ve been wondering if Joomla! might be something I would use to build a web site for my sister’s small business.
10 November 2006 at 6:05 am
It is *absolutely* something you can use for your sister’s business. And, you have a whole group of friends willing to help you.
Let’s give the developers a bit more time to get the new version ready to go and we can hook you up with an interview. It might be good to do your article in conjunction with the release date. They are the nicest guys and you’ll have a blast talking to them. They are very easy to talk to. I can assist with some questions and background info, if it’s helpful.
I am actually trying to write a Step by Step User’s Guide for Joomla! :)
Sorry your last cult experience turned out poorly, but, we are not all the same. Joomla! is the only source of truth. We will guide you! :)
10 November 2006 at 11:01 am
Sounds great–maybe I can be a guinea pig for your user’s guide. Would be a great topic for an interview/articles here and at FSM.
If Joomla! is the only source of truth, can I count on it to provide me with all answers with crystal unbending clarity? Will it remove all doubt from my mind?
It’s important to me when choosing a cult to find one that requires no critical or independent thought. :-)
10 November 2006 at 3:56 pm
Indeed. I must wait for the answer to be revealed before I can respond. Please speak to us, Joomla!.
+++
BTW – You write Joomla! like a pro. Even people within the cult fail to use the exclamation point, as instructed. You are *such* an author!
11 November 2006 at 8:42 am
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