How Software is Built

Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Stefano Fornari

In this interview we talk with Stefano the CTO of Funambol. In specific, we talk about:

• Defining synchronization as a core technology for the future of mobile computing
• The protocols underlying synchronization scenarios
• Various mechanisms used to initiate synchronization
• Characteristics of the open source community specific to mobility
• Conventions that govern contributors and contributions
• Core technical problems in synchronization

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Matt Mullenwegr

In this interview we talk with Matt Mullenweg of WordPress and Automattic. In specific, we talk about:

• Successfully making the culture shift when an open source project is acquired by a corporation
• Scaling skills and physical resources effectively as a project gets larger
• Handling comment spam in blogging environments
• Achieving usability for a technically diverse user base
• The value of an open source community in recruiting people
• The place of blogs in a world of open-ended communication options

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Denis Lussier

In this interview we talk with Denis. In specific, we talk about:

• The role of PostgreSQL in the enterprise database sphere
• Building performance to expand upon the capabilities of LAMP
• Creating a hybrid open source/corporate business model
• The role of various license types in enabling business models
• Sun’s relationship with PostgreSQL

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Ricky Zhou

In this interview we talk with Ricky. In specific, we talk about:

• Identity of the Fedora community and its relationship with Red Hat
• Relationship between Fedora and other distributions
• Upstream projects as they relate to Fedora
• Public opinion about the Fedora project
• Open source involvement in the software industry and university sphere

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Krishna

In this interview we talk with Krishna. In specific, we talk about:

• The birth of Novell-Microsoft NOS interoperability
• Participating in the development of key Windows technologies
• Making Linux and UNIX first class citizens in a Windows network.
• The relationship between Likewise and Samba
• Key aspects of Active Directory functionality for UNIX/Linux
• Making the decision between making a code base open source or closed
• Deciding which features to offer for free in a multi-tier model
• The role of Group Policy in Likewise

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Agostino

In this interview we talk with Agostino. In specific, we talk about:

• The history of Wubi
• Providing a bridge for Windows users to try Linux easily
• Integrating Wubi into the Linux community and specifically Ubuntu
• Making the OS install and later upgrade simple for users
• Feedback from users and other Linux distributions

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Liz Danzico

In this interview we talk with Liz. In specific, we talk about:

• User experience consulting for open source versus closed source customers
• Pros and cons of working with small groups versus open communities
• Strategies for harnessing the wisdom of crowds
• Design by omission versus inclusion of features and achieving coherence with a dispersed team
• Clustering meaning: roles for both humans and computers
• Web acilitation of conversation: emulating pre-literate culture

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Alexey Rusakov

In this interview we talk with Alexey. In specific, we talk about:

• Tracing a history of involvement as a Linux contributor
• The rise of Free Software in Russia
• The role of ALT Linux in advancing Free Software
• The expansion of Free Software in schools and other Russian institutions
• The Russian government’s role in technological change

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Gwyn Fisher

In this interview we talk with Gwyn. In specific, we talk about:

• The value of automated code review
• The advantage of code review at the developer level
• Judging the security of open source codebases
• Coordinating bug resolution between distros and upstream projects
• Educating users about vulnerability in the face of complacency
• The changing face of computer attacks
• Why isn’t everyone using code-validation tools?

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Chris Messina

In this interview we talk with Chris. In specific, we talk about:

• Meritocracy and flexibility in the open-source approach
• Bringing together designers and programmers into a cooperative whole
• The new wave of portable devices and the role of Linux
• Deciding how many features are useful and where bloat sets in
• Analogies from the natural world in project evolution
• Seeking balance between backward compatibility, future-proofness, and open innovation
• The next revolution in personal media on the Internet

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Paul Cooper

In this interview we talk with Paul. In specific, we talk about:

• Getting started with the GNOME project
• Devices targeted by GNOME Mobile
• Differences between GNOME and GNOME Mobile
• Establishing a design approach for meeting the needs of users and devices
• The potential for virtualization on mobile devices
• The relationship between GNOME and providing kernel and hardware support

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Stormy Peters

In this interview we talk with Stormy. In specific, we talk about:

• History and scope of the GNOME umbrella project
• The relationship between GNOME and the public
• Branding an open source project in a world of mixed solutions
• Competition and collaboration between open source projects and other software
• Enhancing communication between developers and non-technical users
• Individual versus collective contribution to product development
• Client-side Linux and the rise of mobile devices
• Emerging relationships between device manufacturers, carriers, and users

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Jeroen van Meeuwen

In this interview we talk with Jeroen. In specific, we talk about:

• Getting involved in Fedora–identifying opportunities
• The essential identity of Fedora among it peers
• The relationship between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• The relationship between user adoption and Fedora’s development goals
• New technologies as the driving force behind Fedora’s development

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Warren Woodford

In this interview we talk with Warren. In specific, we talk about:

• The origins of SimplyMEPIS
• Ubuntu’s role in the larger community
• Differences among distros from a developer perspective
• Corporate use of free versus for-fee Linux
• The Linux desktop and the future of client-side Linux
• Future directions of note: IPv6 and DNSSEC

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Adam Williamson

In this interview we talk with Adam. In specific, we talk about:

• What’s new in the latest Mandriva release
• Relating directly to the users instead of the developer community
• Differences between user priorities and developer priorities
• Deciding what should be included in the distribution
• What will become of the “year of the Linux desktop” idea?
• The future of open versus closed development

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Dries Buytaert

In this interview we talk with Dries. In specific, we talk about:

• Building specialized commercial support for open source technology
• Making cloud computing more viable for widespread use
• The relationship between Drupal and Linux distros
• Lowering the barriers to the deployment of Drupal
• Integrating multiple functionalities and components into one solution

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Cliff Schmidt

In this interview we talk with Cliff. In specific, we talk about:

• Using technology to build literacy worldwide
• Addressing power and infrastructure issues in developing regions
• Minimizing the cost of hardware and software for devices
• Encouraging community involvement through open licensing
• Crossing te gulf between project developers and the user base
• Deciding how best to advance the quality of life in distant places
• Fundraising challenges as the project gains momentum

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Bernard Golden

In this interview we talk with Bernard. In specific, we talk about:

• The emerging impact of open source as a paradigm shift
• Competition between open and closed source entities
• Geographic differences in the adoption of open source software
• Future directions for open source, including the integration of commercial motivations
• Maintaining customer loyalties with open source or proprietary software

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: David Ascher, and Dan Mosedale

In this interview we talk with David and Dan. In specific, we talk about:

• How Thunderbird fits into the larger software ecosystem
• Internal handling of security, feature inclusion, usability, and QA
• The relationship between Thunderbird and Linux distros
• Automated tools and processes within Thunderbird development
• The relationship between open source and proprietary messaging software
• Future directions for messaging

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Interviewers: Scott Swigart and Sean Campbell

Interviewee: Joseph Hill.

In this interview we talk with Joseph. In specific, we talk about:

• The case for developing for Mono under Windows
• Challenges in coupling open source development to Microsoft platforms
• The relationship (or lack thereof) between Mono and Wine
• Microsoft tools as they relate to Mono development
• Market evolution with Moonlight, Silverlight, and Flash

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