X-Git-Url: https://projects.mako.cc/source/fspm_howto/blobdiff_plain/206b026f6074cb7e9315a6324e025fb29fadfa74..01e81ee7f5aa8fb42c5d6ebd47d3282f72d2c81e:/FreeSoftwareProjectManagementHOWTO.sgml diff --git a/FreeSoftwareProjectManagementHOWTO.sgml b/FreeSoftwareProjectManagementHOWTO.sgml index c9be43b..468e160 100644 --- a/FreeSoftwareProjectManagementHOWTO.sgml +++ b/FreeSoftwareProjectManagementHOWTO.sgml @@ -1,3 +1,4 @@ +
@@ -13,29 +14,52 @@ Hill
- mako@debian.org + mako@atdot.cc
+ + + v0.3.3 + 22 August 2008 + bmh + + + + v0.3.2 + 15 April 2002 + bmh + + + + v0.3.1 + 18 June 2001 + bmh + + + + v0.3 + 5 May 2001 + bmh + + v0.2.1 10 April 2001 - bch + bmh - - - + v0.2 8 April 2001 - bch + bmh v0.01 27 March 2001 - bch + bmh Initial Release @@ -76,7 +100,7 @@ - This HOWTO tries to do a lot of thing (probably too many), but it + This HOWTO tries to do a lot of things (probably too many), but it can't answer that question and won't attempt it. What this HOWTO will attempt to do is give your Free Software project a fighting chance--an edge. If you write a piece of crap that no one is @@ -113,42 +137,20 @@ Copyright Information - This document is copyrighted (c) 2000 Benjamin (Mako) Hill and is - distributed under the terms of the Linux Documentation Project - (LDP) license, stated below. + This document is copyrighted (c) 2000-2008 Benjamin Mako Hill and is + distributed under the terms of the GNU Free + Documentation License. - - Unless otherwise stated, Linux HOWTO documents are copyrighted by - their respective authors. Linux HOWTO documents may be reproduced - and distributed in whole or in part, in any medium physical or - electronic, as long as this copyright notice is retained on all - copies. Commercial redistribution is allowed and encouraged; - however, the author would like to be notified of any such - distributions. - - - - All translations, derivative works, or aggregate works - incorporating any Linux HOWTO documents must be covered under this - copyright notice. That is, you may not produce a derivative work - from a HOWTO and impose additional restrictions on its - distribution. Exceptions to these rules may be granted under - certain conditions; please contact the Linux HOWTO coordinator at - the address given below. - - - - In short, we wish to promote dissemination of this information - through as many channels as possible. However, we do wish to - retain copyright on the HOWTO documents, and would like to be - notified of any plans to redistribute the HOWTOs. - - - - If you have any questions, please contact - linux-howto@metalab.unc.edu - + + Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this + document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation + License, Version 1.2 or any later version + published by the Free Software Foundation with no Invariant + Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy + of the license can be found in . + @@ -160,9 +162,10 @@ No liability for the contents of this documents can be accepted. Use the concepts, examples and other content at your own risk. As this is a new edition of this document, there may be errors and - inaccuracies, that may of course be damaging to your system. - Proceed with caution, and although this is highly unlikely, the - author(s) do not take any responsibility for that. + inaccuracies, that may of course be damaging to your project (and + potentially your system). Proceed with caution, and although this + is highly unlikely, the author(s) does not take any responsibility + for that. @@ -177,10 +180,6 @@ as endorsements. - - You are strongly recommended to take a backup of your system - before major installation and backups at regular intervals. - @@ -188,22 +187,18 @@ New Versions - - fswd!news on - - - This is the second pre-release of this HOWTO. It is written to be - released to developers for critique and brainstorming and - submitted to Hampshire College for academic credit. Please keep in - mind that this version of the HOWTO is still in an infant stage - and will be revised extensively before it gets publicized widely. + This version is the part of the third pre-release cycle of this + HOWTO. It is written to be released to developers for critique and + brainstorming. While the HOWTO is now several years old, please keep + in mind that this version of the HOWTO is still in an "early" stage + and will continue to be revised extensively. The latest version number of this document should always be listed - on the projects - homepage hosted by Debian. + on the projects + homepage. @@ -216,32 +211,32 @@ - HTML. + HTML. - HTML (single page). + HTML (single page). - plain text. + plain text. - Compressed postscript. + Compressed postscript. - Compressed SGML source. + Compressed SGML source. @@ -257,23 +252,35 @@ In this version I have the pleasure of acknowledging: + Fellow Debian developers Martin Michlmayr and Vivek + Venugopalan who sent me information and links to extremely + interesting articles. I've added both to the bibliography and I've + added information from each into the HOWTO. Thanks to Andrew Shugg + who pointed out several errors in the document. Also, a big thanks + to Sung Wook Her (AKA RedBaron) who is doing the first translation + of the HOWTO into Korean. I've been happy to see that people have + enjoyed and benefited from the HOWTO so far. + - Josh Crawford, Andy King, and Jaime Davila who all read through - this beast and gave me feedback that has helped me make changes - and improvements to this document. I can't thank you guys enough - for your help. + Older thanks that I don't want to take out yet include: Josh + Crawford, Andy King, and Jaime Davila who all read through this in + entirety and gave me feedback that has helped me make changes and + improvements to this document. I can't thank you guys enough for + your help. An extra Thank You goes to Andy King who + who read through this several times and submitted patches to make + life easier for me. - Karl Fogel, the author of Open - Source Development with CVS published by the Coriolis - Open Press. Large parts of his book are available Open Source Development with + CVS published by the Coriolis Open Press. Large parts + of his book are available on the web. 225 pages of the book are available under the GPL and constitute the best - tutorial on CVS I've ever seen. The rest of the book covers, "the - challenges and philosophical issues inherent in running an Open - Source project using CVS." The book does a good job of covering - some of the subjects brought up in this HOWTO and much + tutorial on CVS I've ever seen. The rest of the book covers, + the challenges and philosophical issues inherent in running + an Open Source project using CVS. The book does a good job + of covering some of the subjects brought up in this HOWTO and much more. The book's website has information on ordering the book and provides several translations of the chapters on CVS. If you are seriously @@ -292,12 +299,12 @@ Also providing support material, and inspiration for this HOWTO is Eric S. Raymond for his prolific, consistent, and carefully crafted arguments and Lawrence Lessig for reminding me of the - importance of Free Software. Additionaly, I want to thank every + importance of Free Software. Additionally, I want to thank every user and developer involved with the Debian Project. The project has provided me with a home, a place to practice free software advocacy, a place to make a difference, a place to learn from - those how have been involved with the movement much longer than I, + those who have been involved with the movement much longer than I, and proof of a free software project that definitely, definitely works. @@ -306,7 +313,7 @@ Above all, I want to thank Richard Stallman for his work at the Free Software Foundation and for never giving up. Stallman provides and articulates the philosophical basis that - attracts me to free software and that drives me towards writing a + attracts me to free software and that drives me toward writing a document to make sure it succeeds. RMS can always be emailed at rms (at) gnu (dot) org. @@ -328,7 +335,7 @@ and I believe that its ultimate success will be rooted in its ability to do this. Please send your additions, comments, and criticisms to the following email address: - mako@debian.org. + mako@atdot.cc. @@ -344,12 +351,29 @@ - However, this HOWTO is still young and I have to yet to be - contacted about a translation so English is all that is currently - available. If you would like to help with or do a translation, you - will gain my utmost respect and admiration and you'll get to be - part of a cool process. If you are at all interested, please don't - hesitate to contact me at: mako@debian.org. + This HOWTO has graciously translated into German by Robert F. + Schmitt. That copy is accessible in the following formats: + + + + + + HTML (single page). + + + + + + Restructured Text Source. + + + + + + If you would like to help with or do a translation, you will gain my + utmost respect and admiration and you'll get to be part of a cool + process. If you are at all interested, please don't hesitate to + contact me at: mako@atdot.cc. @@ -367,7 +391,7 @@ With very little argument, the beginning is the most difficult period in a project's life to do successful free software project - managment. Laying a firm foundation will determine whether your + management. Laying a firm foundation will determine whether your project flourishes or withers away and dies. It is also the subject that is of most immediate interest to anyone reading this document as a tutorial. @@ -376,7 +400,7 @@ Starting a project involves a dilemma that you as a developer must try and deal with: no potential user for your program is interested - in a program that doesn't work while the development process that + in a program that doesn't work, while the development process that you want to employ holds involvement of users as imperative. @@ -384,7 +408,7 @@ It is in these dangerous initial moments that anyone working to start a free software project must try and strike a balance along these lines. One of the most important ways that someone trying to - start a project can work towards this balance is by establishing a + start a project can work toward this balance is by establishing a solid framework for the development process through some of the suggestions mentioned in this section. @@ -398,7 +422,7 @@ If you are reading this document, there's a good chance you already have an idea for a project in mind. Chances are also - pretty good that it fills a percieved gap by doing something that + pretty good that it fills a perceived gap by doing something that no other free software project does or by doing something in a way that is unique enough to necessitate a brand new piece of software. @@ -409,7 +433,7 @@ Eric S. Raymond writes about how free software projects start in his essay, The + url="http://catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/">The Cathedral and the Bazaar, which comes as required reading for any free software developer. It is available online . @@ -453,7 +477,7 @@ In evaluating your idea, you need to first ask yourself a few questions. This should happen before you move any further through this HOWTO. Ask yourself: Is the free software - development model really is the right one for your + development model really the right one for your project? @@ -477,9 +501,9 @@ - Luckily, The Internet is a place so big and so diverse that, + Luckily, the Internet is a place so big and so diverse that, chances are, there is someone, somewhere, who shares your - interests and how feels the same itch. It is the + interests and who feels the same itch. It is the fact that there are so many people with so many similar needs and desires that introduces the third major question: Has somebody already had your idea or a reasonably similar @@ -493,7 +517,7 @@ There are places you can go on the web to try and answer the question above. If you have experience with the free software community, you are probably already familiar with many of these - sites. All of the resources listed bellow offer searching of + sites. All of the resources listed below offer searching of their databases: @@ -515,11 +539,11 @@ Slashdot Slashdot - provides News for Nerds: Stuff that Matters, + provides News for Nerds. Stuff that matters, which usually includes discussion of free software, open - source, technology, and geek culture new and events. It is - not unusual for an particularly sexy development effort to be - announced here so it definitely worth checking. + source, technology, and geek culture news and events. It is + not unusual for a particularly sexy development effort to be + announced here, so it is definitely worth checking. @@ -529,13 +553,13 @@ SourceForge houses and facilitates a growing number of open source and free software projects. It is also quickly becoming a nexus - and an necessary stop for free software + and a necessary stop for free software developers. SourceForge's software map and new release pages should be necessary stops before embarking on a new free software project. SourceForge also - provides a at Code Snippet Library which contains useful reusable chunks of code in an array of languages which can come in useful in any @@ -548,7 +572,7 @@ Google and Google's Linux - Search, provide powerful web searches that may reveal + Search, provides powerful web searches that may reveal people working on similar projects. It is not a catalog of software or news like freshmeat or Slashdot, but it is worth checking to make sure you aren't pouring your effort into a @@ -585,11 +609,11 @@ For many developers this may be the single most difficult aspect - of free software project managment but it is an essential one. It is - easy to become fired up by an idea and be caught up in the + of free software project management, but it is an essential one. It is + easy to become fired up by an idea and get caught up in the momentum and excitement of a new project. It is often extremely - difficult to do but, it is important that any free software - developer remember that the best interests of the free software + difficult to do, but it is important that any free software + developer remembers that the best interests of the free software community and the quickest way to accomplish your own project's goals and the goals of similar projects can often be accomplished by not starting a new @@ -611,7 +635,7 @@ project is worth giving a bit of thought. Leslie Orchard tackles this issue in an Advogato - article. His article is short and definately worth looking + article. His article is short and definitely worth looking over quickly. @@ -641,8 +665,8 @@ He makes a good point though. There are companies whose only job is to make names for pieces of software. They make ridiculous amount of money doing it and are - supposedly worth it. While you probably can't aford a company like - this, you can afford to learn from their existance and think a + supposedly worth it. While you probably can't afford a company like + this, you can afford to learn from their existence and think a little bit about the name you are giving your project because it does matter. @@ -652,7 +676,7 @@ criteria, you can still go ahead. I thought gnubile was one of the best I'd heard for a free software project ever and I still talk about it long after I've stopped using the - program. However, if you can flexible on the subject, listen to + program. However, if you can be flexible on the subject, listen to Orchard's advice. It might help you. @@ -697,7 +721,12 @@ url="http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition_plain.html">Open Source Definition. Examples of free licenses given by the DFSG are the GPL, the - BSD, and the Artistic License. + BSD, and the Artistic License. As ESR mentions + in his his HOWTO, don't write your own + license if at all possible. The three licenses I mention all have + long interpretive traditions. They are also definitely free + software (and can therefore be distributed as part of Debian and + in other places that permit the transfer of free software). @@ -708,9 +737,8 @@ uphold, users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. There are plenty of other licenses that also conform to the DFSG - but sticking with a more well-known license will offer the advantage - of immediate recognition and understanding. - + but sticking with a more well-known license will offer the + advantage of immediate recognition and understanding. In attempting a more in-depth analysis, I agree with Karl Fogel's @@ -725,7 +753,7 @@ Software Foundation and the GNU Project, the GPL is the license for the Linux kernel, GNOME, Emacs, and the vast majority of GNU/Linux software. It's - the obvious choice but I believe it is a good one. Any BSD + the obvious choice but I also believe it is a good one. Any BSD fanatic will urge you to remember that there is a viral aspect to the GPL that prevents the mixture of GPL'ed code with non-GPL'ed @@ -733,6 +761,21 @@ some, it is a major drawback. + + Many people write three or four sentences in a COPYING file and + assume that they have written a free software license--as my long + experience with the debian-legal mailing professes, this is very + often not the case. It may not protect you, it may not protect + your software, and it may make things very difficult for people + that want to use your software but who pay a lot of attention to + the subtle legal points of licenses. If you are passionate about + a home-brewed license, run it by either people at OSI or the debian-legal mailing + list first protect yourself from unanticipated + side-effects of your license. + + The three major licenses can be found at the following locations: @@ -776,6 +819,17 @@ + + Make yourself or the FSF the copyright holder for the + work. In a few rare cases, you might want to make a sponsoring + organization (if it's big and powerful enough) the copyright + holder instead. Doing this is as simple as putting the name in + the blank when you modify the notice of copyright + below. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to file with + any organization. The notice alone is enough to copyright your + work. + + If at all possible, attach and distribute a full copy of the license with the source and binary by including a separate @@ -899,14 +953,14 @@ for details. time. The first number is the major number and it signifies major changes or rewrites. The second number is the minor number and it represents added or tweaked functionality on top of a largely - coherant structure. The third number is the patch number and it + coherent structure. The third number is the patch number and it usually will only refer to releases fixing bugs. The widespread use of this scheme is why I know the nature and relative degree in the differences between a 2.4.12 release of the - Linux kernel and a 2.4.11, 2.2.12, and 1.2.12 without knowning + Linux kernel and a 2.4.11, 2.2.12, and 1.2.12 without knowing anything about any of the releases. @@ -959,7 +1013,7 @@ for details. Wine version numbering: Because of the unusual nature of wine's development where - the not-emulator is constantly improving but not working towards + the not-emulator is constantly improving but not working toward any immediately achievable goal, wine is released every three weeks. Wine does this by labeling their releases in Year Month Day format where each release might be labeled @@ -989,7 +1043,7 @@ for details. road maps. Major points and achievements along these road-maps were marked as milestones. Therefore, although - mozilla was built and distributed nightly as nightly + Mozilla was built and distributed nightly as nightly builds, on a day when the goals of a milestone on the road-map had been reached, that particular build was marked as a milestone release. @@ -1058,9 +1112,7 @@ for details. through the Linux Documentation project (LDP) and is written by Jens Schweikhardt. It is available from - Schweikhardt's site or from the - LDP. + Schweikhardt's site. @@ -1141,7 +1193,7 @@ pages for more information and options. In addition to man pages and command-line help, there are certain files where people will look for documentation, especially in any package containing source code. In a source distribution, most of - these files can be stored in a the root directory of the source + these files can be stored in the root directory of the source distribution or in a subdirectory of the root called doc or Documentation. Common files in these places include: @@ -1173,7 +1225,7 @@ pages for more information and options. install and touches on any unusual options or actions that may be necessary. For most relatively standard install procedures and for most programs, INSTALL files are as short - as possible are rarely over 100 lines. + as possible and are rarely over 100 lines. @@ -1187,7 +1239,7 @@ pages for more information and options. changes you make to your program. The most simple way to maintain a CHANGELOG is to simply keep a file with the source code for your program and add a section to the top of the - CHANGELOG with each release describing what has been, changed, + CHANGELOG with each release describing what has been changed, fixed, or added to the program. It's a good idea to post the CHANGELOG onto the website as well because it can help people decide whether they want or need to upgrade to a newer version @@ -1202,7 +1254,7 @@ pages for more information and options. A NEWS file and a ChangeLog are similar. Unlike a CHANGELOG, a NEWS file is not typically updated with new versions. Whenever new features are added, the developer - responisble will make a note in the NEWS file. NEWS files + responsible will make a note in the NEWS file. NEWS files should not have to be changed before a release (they should be kept up to date all along) but it's usually a good idea to check first anyway because often developers just forget to @@ -1248,23 +1300,67 @@ pages for more information and options. Other documentation hints - - All your documentation should be in plaintext, or, in cases where - it is on your website primarily, in HTML. Everyone can cat a - file, everyone has a pager, (almost) everyone can render - HTML. You are welcome to distribute information in PDF, - PostScript, RTF, or any number of other widely used formats but - this information must also be available in plaintext or HTML or - people will be very angry at you. - + + + + All your documentation should be in plaintext, or, in cases + where it is on your website primarily, in HTML. Everyone can + cat a file, everyone has a pager, (almost) everyone can render + HTML. You are welcome to distribute information in + PDF, PostScript, RTF, or any number of other widely used + formats but this information must also be available in + plaintext or HTML or people will be very angry at + you. In my opinion, info falls into this category + as well. There is plenty of great GNU documentation that + people simply don't read because it only in info. And this + does make people angry. It's not a + question of superior formats; it is a question of + accessability and the status quo plays a huge role in this + determination. + + + + + + It doesn't hurt to distribute any documentation for your + program from your website (FAQs etc) with your program. Don't + hesitate to throw any of this in the program's tarball. If + people don't need it, they will delete it. I can repeat it over + and over: Too much documentation is not a + sin. + + + + + Unless your software is particular to a non-English + language (a Japanese language editor for example), please + distribute it with English language documentation. If you don't + speak English or not not confident in your skills, ask a friend + for help. Like it or not, fair or unfair, English is + the language of free software. However, this does not + mean you should limit your documentation to only English. If you + speak another language, distribute translations of documentation + with your software if you have the time and energy to do + so. They will invariably be useful to someone. + + + + + Finally, please spell-check your + documentation. Misspellings in documentation are + bugs. I'm very guilty of committing this error and it's + extremely easy to do. If English is not your first language, + have a native speaker look over or edit your documentation or + web pages. Poor spelling or grammar goes a long way to making + your code look unprofessional. In code comments, this type of + thing is less important but in man pages and web pages these + mistakes are not acceptable. + + + + + - - It doesn't hurt to distribute any documentation for your program - from your website (FAQs etc) with your program. Don't hesitate - throw any of this in the program's tarball. If people don't need - it, they will delete it. I can repeat it over and over: - Too much documentation is not a sin. - @@ -1281,6 +1377,20 @@ pages for more information and options. may remind a developer of something they may have forgotten. + + Package File Names + + I agree with ESR when he says that: It's helpful to + everybody if your archive files all have GNU-like names -- + all-lower-case alphanumeric stem prefix, followed by a dash, + followed by a version number, extension, and other + suffixes. There is more info (including lots of examples + of what not to do in his Software + Release Practices HOWTO which is included in this + HOWTO's bibliography and can be found through the LDP. + + + Package formats @@ -1299,7 +1409,7 @@ pages for more information and options. Binary packages should always be distribution specific. If you can build binary packages against a current version of a major distribution, you will only make your users happy. Try to foster - relationships with users or developers of large distributiosn to + relationships with users or developers of large distributions to develop a system for the consistent creation of binary packages. It's often a good idea to provide RedHat RPM's (.rpm), Debian deb's (.deb) and source @@ -1328,7 +1438,7 @@ pages for more information and options. about a version control system because it provides an automated way of solving many of the problems described by this HOWTO. I am not aware of any free version control systems for Windows or - MacOS but I know that CVS clients exist for both + Mac OS but I know that CVS clients exist for both platforms. Websites like SourceForge do a great job as well with a nice, easy-to-use web interface to CVS. @@ -1337,8 +1447,10 @@ pages for more information and options. I'd love to devote more space in this HOWTO to CVS because I love it (I even use CVS to keep versions straight on this HOWTO!) but - I think it falls outside the scope of this document and should - (already has) its own HOWTO. + I think it falls outside the scope of this document and already + has its own HOWTOs. Most notably is the CVS Best + Practices HOWTO + which I've included in the attached bibliography. @@ -1363,7 +1475,7 @@ pages for more information and options. yourprojectname-latest that is always pointing to the most recent released or development version of your free software application. Keep in mind that this location - will recieve many requests for downloads around releases so + will receive many requests for downloads around releases so make sure that the server you choose has adequate bandwidth. @@ -1478,7 +1590,7 @@ pages for more information and options. In a bit of a disclaimer, delegation need not mean rule by - comittee. In many cases it does and this has been proven to + committee. In many cases it does and this has been proven to work. In other cases this has created problems. Managing Projects the Open Source Way argues that OSS @@ -1508,13 +1620,13 @@ pages for more information and options. yourself. In a sentence: Keep an eye out for other qualified developers who show an interest and sustained involvement with your project and try and shift responsibility - towards them. The following ideas might be good places + toward them. The following ideas might be good places to start or good sources of inspiration: Allow a larger group of people to have write access to your CVS - repository and make real efforts towards rule by a + repository and make real efforts toward rule by a committee @@ -1609,6 +1721,29 @@ pages for more information and options. to you by other developers. + + Encouraging Good Patching + + As the person managing or maintaining the project, you + aren't the person who is going to be making a lot of + patches. However, it's worth knowing about ESR's section on + Good Patching Practice in the + Software Release Practices HOWTO. I don't agree with ESR's claim that most ugly + or undocumented patches are probably worth throwing out at first + sight--this just hasn't been my experience, especially when + dealing with bug fixes that often don't come in the form of + patches at all. Of course, this doesn't mean that I + like getting poorly done patches. If you get + ugly -e patches, if you get totally undocumented patches, and + especially if they are anything more than trivial bug-fixes, it + might be worth judging the patch by some of the criteria in ESR's + HOWTO and then throwing people the link to the document so they + can do it the right way. + + + + Technical judgment @@ -1636,7 +1771,7 @@ pages for more information and options. The necessity to avoid digressions that might expand the scope of the program too much and result and push the project - towards an early death under its own weight and + toward an early death under its own weight and unwieldiness. @@ -1707,8 +1842,8 @@ pages for more information and options. difficult decisions to a development mailing list where they can be discussed and debated. There will be some patches (bug fixes, etc.) which will definitely be accepted and some that you feel - are so offbase that they do not even merit further - discussion. It is those that fall into the grey area between + are so off base that they do not even merit further + discussion. It is those that fall into the gray area between these two groups that might merit a quick forward to a mailing list. @@ -1727,7 +1862,7 @@ pages for more information and options. Technical issues are not always good justification - Especially towards the beginning of your project's life, you + Especially toward the beginning of your project's life, you will find that many changes are difficult to implement, introduce new bugs, or have other technical problems. Try to see past these. Especially with added functionality, good ideas do @@ -2083,7 +2218,7 @@ pages for more information and options. In addition to your users being your developers, they are also (and perhaps more commonly) your testers. Before I get flamed, I should rephrase my sentence: some of your - users (those who explicityly volunteer) are your + users (those who explicitly volunteer) are your testers. @@ -2167,7 +2302,7 @@ pages for more information and options. - CVS comes with a bourne shell script called sanity.sh that is + CVS comes with a Bourne shell script called sanity.sh that is worth looking at. Debian uses a program called lintian that checks Debian packages for all of the most common errors. While use of these scripts may not be helpful, there is a host of other @@ -2202,7 +2337,7 @@ pages for more information and options. The second most difficult part of testing is keeping your testers and keeping them actively involved in the testing process. Fortunately, there are - some tried and true tactics that can applied towards this end: + some tried and true tactics that can applied toward this end: @@ -2274,12 +2409,12 @@ pages for more information and options. It should not come as any surprise that the key element to any support infrastructure is good documentation. This topic was - large covered in and will not be + largely covered in and will not be repeated here. - + Mailing lists Aside from documentation, effective mailing lists will be your @@ -2332,7 +2467,7 @@ pages for more information and options. There are other things you want to take into consideration in setting up your list. If it is possible to gate your mailing - lists to USENET and provide it in digest form as well as + lists to Usenet and provide it in digest form as well as making them accessible on the web, you will please some users and work to make the support infrastructure slightly more accessible. @@ -2371,7 +2506,7 @@ pages for more information and options. url="http://bugs.debian.org">Debian Bug Tracking System (BTS) although it may not be best choice for every project (it seems to currently be buckling under its own - weight) As well as a damn good web browser, the mozilla project + weight) As well as a damn good web browser, the Mozilla project has spawned a sub-project resulting in a bug tracking system called bugzilla @@ -2588,26 +2723,35 @@ pages for more information and options. - Mailing lists and USENET + Mailing lists and Usenet + + Announce your software on Usenet's comp.os.linux.announce. If + you only announce your software in two places, have it be c.o.l.a + and freshmeat. + - Email is still the way that most people on the Internet get their - information. Its a good idea to send a message announcing your - program to any relevant mailing list you know of and any relevant - USENET discussion group. Karl Fogel recommends that use you - simple subject describing the fact that the message is an - announcement, the name of the program, the version, and a - half-line long description of its functionality. This way, any - interested user or developer will be immediately attracted to - your announcement. Fogel's example looks like: + However, email is still the way that most people on the Internet + get their information. Its a good idea to send a message + announcing your program to any relevant mailing list you know of + and any other relevant Usenet discussion groups. + + Karl Fogel recommends that use you simple subject + describing the fact that the message is an announcement, the name + of the program, the version, and a half-line long description of + its functionality. This way, any interested user or developer + will be immediately attracted to your announcement. Fogel's + example looks like: - Subject: ANN: aub 1.0, a program to assemble USENET binaries + Subject: ANN: aub 1.0, a program to assemble Usenet binaries The rest of the email should describe the programs functionality quickly and concisely in no more than two paragraphs and should provide links to the projects webpage and direct links to - downloads for those that want to try it right away. + downloads for those that want to try it right away. This form + will work for both Usenet and mailing list posts. @@ -2635,6 +2779,20 @@ pages for more information and options. interesting new releases). + + + Project Mailing List + + If you've gone ahead and created mailing lists for your + project, you should always announce new versions on these + lists. I've found that for many projects, users request a very + low-volume announce only mailing list to be notified when new + versions are released. freshmeat.net now allows users to subscribe + to a particular project so they receive emails every time a new + version is announced through their system. It's free and it can + stand in for an announce-only mailing list. In my opinion, it + can't hurt. + @@ -2662,7 +2820,7 @@ pages for more information and options. Fogel's guide to using CVS in the free software - world is much more than its subitle. In the publisher's + world is much more than its subtitle. In the publisher's own words: Open Source Development with CVS is one of the first books available that teaches you development and implementation of Open Source @@ -2673,6 +2831,10 @@ pages for more information and options. important and useful. Please check it or buy it if you can and are seriously interested in running a free software project. + + In May of 2003, the entire book under the GPL. You can + find the full text of the book here. @@ -2698,7 +2860,7 @@ pages for more information and options. While it only briefly talks about free software (and does it by tiptoeing around the free software/open source issue with the spineless use of the term open code that only a - laywer could coin), Lessig's book is brilliant. Written by a + lawyer could coin), Lessig's book is brilliant. Written by a lawyer, it talks about how regulation on the Internet is not done with law, but with the code itself and how the nature of the code will determine the nature of future freedoms. In @@ -2748,21 +2910,102 @@ pages for more information and options. - Web-Accessable Resources + Web-Accessible Resources This is a list of the web resources pertaining to this HOWTO that I've found most helpful in compiling this information. If you know of others that would help, please don't hesitate to email me at - mako@debian.org and we can look into getting it + mako@atdot.cc and we can look into getting it added to the list and represented in the HOWTO. I'd recommend that any free software developer (or potential one) - skim through these sites becaue they have each have a lot to say. + skim through these sites because they have each have a lot to say. + + + + + Dafermos + George + N + + + <ulink url="http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue6_11/dafermos/">Management and Virtual Decentralized Networks: The Linux Project</ulink> + + + Since the paper includes its own abstract, I thought I + would include it here verbatim: + +
This paper examines the latest of + paradigms - the Virtual Network(ed) Organisation - and whether + geographically dispersed knowledge workers can virtually + collaborate for a project under no central + planning. Co-ordination, management and the role of knowledge + arise as the central areas of focus. The Linux Project and its + development model are selected as a case of analysis and the + critical success factors of this organisational design are + identified. The study proceeds to the formulation of a + framework that can be applied to all kinds of virtual + decentralised work and concludes that value creation is + maximized when there is intense interaction and uninhibited + sharing of information between the organisation and the + surrounding community. Therefore, the potential success or + failure of this organisational paradigm depends on the degree + of dedication and involvement by the surrounding + community.
 + + This paper was referred to me in my capacity as author of + this HOWTO and I was very impressed. It's written by a graduate + student in management and I think it succeeds at evaluating the + Linux project as an example of a new paradigm in management--one + that you will be be placing yourself at the + center of in your capacity as maintainer of a free software + project. + + As a developer trying to control an application and guide + it to success in the free software world, I'm not sure how + useful Dafermos's argument is. It does however, provide a + theoretical justification for my HOWTO--free software project + management is a different creature than + proprietary software project management. If you are interested + in the conceptual and theoretical ways that free software + project management differs from other types of management, this + is a great paper to read. If this paper answers questions of + how?, Dafermos answers the (more difficult to + defend) questions of why? and does a very good + job. + + + + + + + + + + Gabriel + Richard + + + <ulink + url="http://www.jwz.org/doc/worse-is-better.html">The Rise of + <quote>Worse is Better</quote></ulink> + + + + A well written article although I think the title may have + confused as many people as the rest of the essay helped. It + offers a good description of how to design programs that will + succeed and stay maintainable as they grow. + + + + + @@ -2785,8 +3028,8 @@ pages for more information and options. In one of the better articles on the subject that I've read, Monty sums up some of the major points I touch on including: - starting a project, testing, documenation, organizing a team and - leadership, and several other topics. While more opiniated that + starting a project, testing, documentation, organizing a team and + leadership, and several other topics. While more opinionated that I try to be, I think its an important article that I found very helpful in writing this HOWTO. I've tried to cite him in the places where I borrowed from him most. @@ -2801,27 +3044,69 @@ pages for more information and options. - + - Gabriel - Richard + Raymond + Eric + Steven - - <ulink - url="http://www.jwz.org/doc/worse-is-better.html">The Rise of - <quote>Worse is Better</quote></ulink> + + <ulink url="http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-Release-Practice-HOWTO/index.html">Software Release Practice HOWTO</ulink> - - A well written article although I think the title may have - confused as many people as the rest of the essay helped. It - offers a good description of how to design programs that will - succeed and stay maintainable as they grow. - + + At first glance, ESR's release practice HOWTO seems to + share a lot of terrain with this document. Upon closer + examination, the differences become apparent but they are + closely related. His document, read in conjunction with mine, + will give a reader a good picture of how to go about managing a + project. ESR's HOWTO goes into a bit more detail on how to write + and what languages to write in. He tends to give more specific + instructions and checklists (name this file this, not + this) while this HOWTO speaks more conceptually. There + are several sections that are extremely similar. It's also + much shorter. + + My favorite quote from his HOWTO is: "Managing a + project well when all the participants are volunteers presents + some unique challenges. This is too large a topic to cover in a + HOWTO. Oh really? Perhaps I just do a poor job. + + + + + + + Venugopalan + Vivek + + + <ulink url="http://www.magic-cauldron.com/cm/cvs-bestpractices/index.html">CVS Best Practices</ulink> + + + + Venugopalan provides one of the best essays on + effective use of CVS that I've come across. It is written for + people who already have a good knowledge of CVS. In the chapter + on branching, he describes when and how to branch but gives no + information on what CVS commands you should use to do this. This + is fine (technical CVS HOWTO have been written) but CVS newbies + will want to spend some time with Fogel's reference before they + will find this one very useful. + + Venugopalan creates checklists of things to do before, + after, and around releases. It's definitely worth a read through + as most of his ideas will save tons of developer head aches over + any longer period of time. + + + + + @@ -2835,10 +3120,10 @@ pages for more information and options. - I have spent a huge amount of time on advogato and I've gone + I have spent a huge amount of time on Advogato and I've gone through and provided links to the articles that I think might be of particular interest to anyone reading this HOWTO. I think that - skimming through these links can be helfpul and I promise that if + skimming through these links can be helpful and I promise that if you do, you'll learn a lot. You will learn that my idea of how a free software project should be run is not the only idea. I think that's important. @@ -2848,7 +3133,7 @@ pages for more information and options. If nothing else, there is way more information on that website than I could ever fit into, or reference from this HOWTO. I have listed what I think are the most - relavant articles here with short descriptions that I've written. + relevant articles here with short descriptions that I've written. @@ -2870,7 +3155,7 @@ pages for more information and options. Touching mostly on programming practice (as most articles on the subject usually do), the article talks a little about - project managment (Use it!) and a bit about + project management (Use it!) and a bit about communication within a free software project. @@ -2953,7 +3238,7 @@ pages for more information and options. While the article is little more than a question, reading the - answers to this question offered by advogato's readers can + answers to this question offered by Advogato's readers can help. In a lot of ways, this HOWTO acts as my answer to the questions posed in this article but there are others, many of which might take issue with whats is in this HOWTO. It's worth @@ -2982,7 +3267,7 @@ pages for more information and options. This document was written as a response to another advogato + url="http://www.advogato.org/article/72.html">another Advogato article. Although not about running a project, this describes some of the ways that you can get started with free software development without starting a project. I think this @@ -3002,11 +3287,10 @@ pages for more information and options. Moorman Jacob - - <ulink - url="http://www.advogato.org/article/72.html"></ulink>Importance - of Non-Developer Supporters in Free Software - + + <ulink url="http://www.advogato.org/article/72.html">Importance of + Non-Developer Supporters in Free Software</ulink><title> + Advogato @@ -3059,16 +3343,16 @@ pages for more information and options. Advogato - Februrary 28, 2000 + February 28, 2000 - In this article, David Allen challengs the whole + In this article, David Allen challenges the whole Major.Minor.Patch version numbering scheme. Its good to read this as you read . I liked the article and it describes some of the projects that I bring up in my discussion - of verion numbering. + of version numbering. @@ -3077,6 +3361,509 @@ pages for more information and options. + + GNU Free Documentation License + + Copyright (C) 2000, 2001, 2002 Free Software Foundation, + Inc. 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, + Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA. Everyone is permitted to copy and + distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is + not allowed. + + + 0. 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