Re: gEDA-user: FUNDING

[andrew whyte <ajwhyte@xxxxxxxxx>]

>> Negotiating with IEEE is a good idea. ...
>> but I'd ask them to put links to our website, or give them lectures about the
>> project.

> I think working with the IEEE is a good idea.
...
>  I am the chair of the IEEE consultants network in Washington, DC.

I apologise for being flippant in my previous message - it's amazing
who is listening!
A talk would be great, I am unsure who is near Washington (anyone?) -
the developers are
very geographically distributed.  (part of the amazing world of open
source development!)
  I would be happy to put forward case studies & images, if a
potential speaker wanted it.

  Would you consider a web cast?

> I'm not sure how you might go  about getting money from them for FOSS development,
> but there might be something available.
  I have more experience with the IET in the UK, who sometimes have
grants and things
available,  but have trouble advertising them!

> ÂWe would be interested in working with anyone here to help
> promote gEDA to the rest of IEEE. ÂSpecifically, we would be happy to host a
> presentation if someone would like to tell our group about gEDA and why
> consultants should be interested in supporting the project.

gEDA (& FOSS in general) is powerful for consultants and small companies,  for
example I can support designs indefinitely - knowing that I won't have
to suddenly
pay for a license fee for software that I might no longer use, just to
access my own
design! Compare this to a proprietary tool, where an instant fee would
be required for the
slightest change even years after I stop using that software for new designs.

>  I can introduce the group to some of the local IEEE bodies and explore
> the possibilities available for funding.

I can't really speak for the development team, but this sounds awesome to me!
gEDA is a community driven project for engineers and by engineers - this really
does make it a bit special.  The fact is that I find it has many
qualities that are
lacking in even the most expensive EDA tools.  Check out Peter C's open GL pcb
branch to see some amazing looking PCB layout tools!

What would be the next steps?
To the developers:  How would you like to proceed?

> I would offer to be a spokesperson for gEDA, but I know little about it. ÂI
> am here to try to learn.

The learning curve can be steep at times; I think that this is because
the workflow is
a little more UNIX-like.   Stick with it if you can, learning gEDA
gave me a better
understanding of other tools too, so I hope you'll find it worthwhile.
 There is also a
kind of exhilarating  feeling to knowing that the gEDA isn't going to
limit you,  that
is to say that there are no 'edges' - if you have the skills and the
time (thought it
could even mean delving into the code!) anything conceivable can be done!

--
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
 Â Andrew Whyte MEng CEng
âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
 Â @ - aw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 Â â - www.paramita-electronics.com
 Â â - +44 (0) 79 81 01 61 85
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