What are peoples thoughts on the whole open source concept in general and
specifically to POVRay? I've been using it for a while and feel bad that I
can't contribute to the project. Since I don't do hardcore programing like c++
and very rarely answer others questions in the newsgroups, but often post my
own, I fee like I'm being greedy.

I hate to use a cliche but I feel like a taker, rather than a giver when it
comes to this great program. I think this is a shame since the idea of open
source is kind of a "hippie" idea. That is keeping ideas and knwoledge free,
and because its free people are able to take others ideas and expand on them
and because everybody is expanding on everybody elses ideas it really produce a
great product.

I mean look at Linux. There was one CEO of a fortune 500 company
<cough>micro<cough>soft<cough> that called linux a cancer.  I don't use 3d
software professionally but a friend of mine who does offered me a key
generator for 3ds and LightWave. I refused him, not only because it was the
ethical thing to do, but also I think of this as website and software as a
"digital commune". Although if this was a real commune, since I seem to be
contribute very little, I would probably be the guy who eats everything and
plants nothing.

So any ideas how I can contribute?

Anybody else feel guilty and feel like they are to much of a taker?

What about the givers? Do you guys get tired of us takers?


p.s.
No I am not a hippie in real life. Although I wish I was, I am unfortunatley
just a geek who works a 9-5.

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Woody <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> I hate to use a cliche but I feel like a taker, rather than a giver when it
> comes to this great program.

  In my opinion just being a user, contributing to the newsgroups, and maybe
an image from time to time, is a great contribution. I bet nothing makes
the pov-team happier than people who use the program, be it for fun, work
or both.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Woody wrote:

> 
> So any ideas how I can contribute?
> 

What Warp said. Contributing positive energy is huge.  Take a cue from 
Thomas, he gives a response to almost every image posted.  I wish I 
could match his pace, and I do what I can, when I can, but I feel guilty 
that it could be more.

I am reminded a bit of a conversation I had with my daughter about her 
HS Varsity softball team.  We were discussing the lineup and it surfaced 
that there were a number of girls on the team who were seniors and 
basically benchwarmers.  I commented that that's gotta be tough for 
them, watching freshmen, sophmores and juniors take starting positions 
while they sat.  My daughter answered that no, they were perfectly happy 
with the situation, that they functioned as a cheering section, moral 
support, and leadership for the first stringers.  I was incredulous. 
"Cheering section?????" "NOOOO!" my daughter protested.  "They make a 
huge difference!"  "When we don't have them there, we loose."

Post a reply to this message

Woody wrote:
> So any ideas how I can contribute?
> 

Keep asking questions. Look at it from the perspective of someone just 
finding POV-Ray. They may have the same question but, like so many 
people, feel that they aren't ready to join in the community and start 
asking them. Even simple questions give more experienced users time to 
think about a problem again, and maybe come up with a new idea.

Post a reply to this message

"Woody" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> So any ideas how I can contribute?

You can start by adding stuff to the Object Collection, or even the wiki. No
special programming ability required. Also, stuff like this is most likely to
attract new users.

-Mike

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At the risk of lapsing into a cliche myself, yours is a classic "Catch 22"
situation, albeit in a positive sense.  Anyone who is genuinely concerned about
the prospect of being a "taker" isn't one.  "Community" is one of the most
important aspects of the open source phenomenon.  If the the community were to
be limited to hard core programmers only, the open source movement would be
doomed to permanent marginality.  My own programming skills are very modest.  I
probably ask for help two or three times as often as I am able to give it.  Yet,
the community has accepted me into its midst, bad puns and all.

As for Micro$oft's opinions on Linux, one can hardly be surprised when the
pathogen fails to express love for the antibody. ;-)

So, welcome to the community and please stop worrying. ANY contribution you
would care to make is a plus.  Not all important ideas are expressed in
executable code.  Every active mind motivated by positive concerns is valuable
addition.

Best Regards,
Mike C.

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"Woody" <nomail@nomail> schreef in bericht 
news:web.48768fef3e11ba9cd0bdfd6f0@news.povray.org...
> p.s.
> No I am not a hippie in real life. Although I wish I was, I am 
> unfortunatley
> just a geek who works a 9-5.
>
Hmm... Nothing wrong with that. Most people are, mainly by necessity, some 
by choice. However, be a hippie in your mind! You don't need the external 
attributes you know.  I discarded them a very, very long time ago (I only 
kept my guitar in the attic).  :-)

That said, there is not much to add to the comments already given. One thing 
I might add: consider also OpenOffice.org as the big opponent of MSOffice. 
Although there certainly is a vast amount of developers around the world 
working on it, it is the gigantic amount of users that makes it such a 
success, and the major challenge to MSOffice as far as I know.

Thomas

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Woody wrote:
> What are peoples thoughts on the whole open source concept in general and
> specifically to POVRay?

I wish POV-ray was opensource...

bye
as

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Alessio Sangalli <ale### [at] manowebcom> wrote:
> I wish POV-ray was opensource...
>
> bye
> as

Speaking of open source, can someone provide a comparison of POV with Yafray? I
see that its user forums aren't as active as these newsgroups.

-Mike

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SharkD wrote:

> Speaking of open source, can someone provide a comparison of POV with Yafray? I

No idea but seriously, I guess the topic has been discussed 1000 times,
but any plan to make POV-ray free software? What is the problem?

bye
as

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