Re: What kind of relation between hardware companies and the Xfree project

Charles de Miramon wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I'm just an end-user of X and following with interest the discussion  going 
> on. One aspect that differentiate the Xfree project with KDE or Gnome is the 
> potential  participation of hardware companies to Xfree
> 
> In his call for a renewed Xfree, Keith Packard talked about including in the 
> Xfree community :
> 
> * Consulting companies selling services based on X.
>  * Hardware vendors producing hardware to work with X.
> 
> How should it be done ? Could Keith Packard and the different members of 
> Tungsten Graphics elaborate on this ? 


Just to make things clear:  In no post have I attempted to make a statement on 
behalf of TG, nor have any of the other TG people -- which is just as well as 
we hold some widely divergent views on the matter.

So, speaking personally:

I don't think companies should be treated too differently to individual 
developers - if a company shows an interest and committment to a project, that 
should be encouraged and respected.

I think XFree86 is one of a small number of open software projects which could 
garner significant interest from corporations due to its central role in a 
Linux workstation or desktop installation.  Working against that is the 
nightmarish role IP has played in the graphics arena, which makes many of 
these companys very reluctant to divulge anything, let alone do open coding.

Anyway, my opinion is:  make XFree86 a rewarding/comfortable place for 
individual developers and the corporations, driven by self-interest, will find 
a way of fitting in.

Keith