Mailing List Archive: Re: re: Open Source design competition / Python /software tools

gvwilson@nevex.com wrote:
>
> Hi, everyone. I'm sending my reply to Jim's message to the whole
> python-dev list; I'll send follow-ups to individuals if people would
> prefer.
>
> > > * an issue tracking system to replace Gnats and Bugzilla;
> > >
> > > * a build system to replace make;
> > >
> > > * a platform inspection and configuration system to replace autoconf;
> > > and
> > >
> > > * a testing framework to replace XUnit, Expect, and DejaGnu.
>
> > Jim Fulton asked:
> > Are these categories fixed?
>
> For the first round, yes

OK.

>--- I have to prove that this model can solve
> small problems before I'll be given the funding to tackle larger ones, and
> I think that a UML modeling tool is definitely "large" :-).

Well, since you gave rational ..... :)

<speech>
Isn't the Open Source community especially good at large problems?
Note that I'm thinking more in terms of an open source UML community
of tools, based around an existing repository rather than on a single
monolithic tool. I envision a community of diagramming and other small
tools orbiting Zope or ZODB. The hardest part of a UML tool is the
repository, and I think we've mostly got that.

I think that what the Open Source community desperately needs
are tools for managing and sharing the most important artifacts
in the development process.
</speech>

Jim

--
Jim Fulton mailto:jim@digicool.com Python Powered!
Technical Director (888) 344-4332 http://www.python.org
Digital Creations http://www.digicool.com http://www.zope.org

Under US Code Title 47, Sec.227(b)(1)(C), Sec.227(a)(2)(B) This email
address may not be added to any commercial mail list with out my
permission. Violation of my privacy with advertising or SPAM will
result in a suit for a MINIMUM of $500 damages/incident, $1500 for
repeats.

On Thu, 23 Dec 1999, Jim Fulton wrote:
> gvwilson@nevex.com wrote:
>...
> >--- I have to prove that this model can solve
> > small problems before I'll be given the funding to tackle larger ones, and
> > I think that a UML modeling tool is definitely "large" :-).
>
> Well, since you gave rational ..... :)
>
> <speech>
> Isn't the Open Source community especially good at large problems?

Very true, I agree, but part of Greg's problem is "proving" that to the
DoE. Somebody has said those four problems are sufficient to do so, and
(probably) because they are reasonably constrained to allow completion
within a specified timeframe.

> Note that I'm thinking more in terms of an open source UML community
> of tools, based around an existing repository rather than on a single
> monolithic tool. I envision a community of diagramming and other small
> tools orbiting Zope or ZODB. The hardest part of a UML tool is the
> repository, and I think we've mostly got that.

Greg's proposal is quite specific. "A community" isn't, so it might not
help to create a proof to the DoE (otherwise, they could look at the Zope
community, or other communities!).

Jim: there isn't anything stopping or impeding the creation of an Open
Source community for UML modeling. This DoE competition won't affect
that...

Happy Holidays,
-g

--
Greg Stein, http://www.lyra.org/