Who is Representing Apache?

[Brian McQueen <mc...@gmail.com>]

I was at a conference for startups last week, and it would have been
very useful to have someone there representing Apache.  It is going to
drop from the minds of its target audience if its utility is not made
obvious again and again, obvious and up-to-date.  There was a lot of
talk about open source projects and how to use open source code and
nobody but me mentioned Apache.  It should be the textbook example of
how to run a successful open source project, and it should be an
example of great engineering and there should be cases made for how
and why to use it, and the startups should hear about it.  It was a
missed opportunity.  I raised the question about how many folks depend
on it, and the room was full of hands, but NONE of them are developing
within it, none are involved with it.  Its just their web server.

This awesome Apache thing you guys created is beginning to slide into
obscurity, when its actually better now than ever and should be moving
more steadily into the forefront.  Its no mere web server!

So who is responsible for this type of activity?

Brian McQueen

Re: Who is Representing Apache?

["William A. Rowe, Jr." <wr...@rowe-clan.net>]

Brian McQueen wrote:
> I was at a conference for startups last week, and it would have been
> very useful to have someone there representing Apache.  It is going to
> drop from the minds of its target audience if its utility is not made
> obvious again and again, obvious and up-to-date.  There was a lot of
> talk about open source projects and how to use open source code and
> nobody but me mentioned Apache.  It should be the textbook example of
> how to run a successful open source project, and it should be an
> example of great engineering and there should be cases made for how
> and why to use it, and the startups should hear about it.  It was a
> missed opportunity.  I raised the question about how many folks depend
> on it, and the room was full of hands, but NONE of them are developing
> within it, none are involved with it.  Its just their web server.

I'm a bit confused because you are talking business cases around the open
source model v.s. creating open source projects.

Many of the industry leaders do these sorts of presentations regularly,
two that come to mind offhand are Brian Behlendorf and my CEO, Mark Brewer,
but I know that there are a ton of others who can and do speak on business
models around open source.

Sander pointed out, you need to inform the PRC early when you see a public
relations opportunity that the Apache folks should avail themselves of.  The
volunteer nature of the group means that the more lead time, the more chance
there's a speaker available.

Bill

Re: Who is Representing Apache?

[Sander Temme <sc...@apache.org>]

Hi Brian,

Thank you for your thoughts. I am Cc-ing on this response the Apache  
Software Foundation Public Relations Team. They may choose to chime  
in if they think this necessary.

I cannot speak for the foundation, but as a contributor to the Apache  
HTTP Server project I am delighted to hear that the web server is so  
ubiquitous that it seems to be the default platform for startup  
companies. I hope that many of those present are subscribed to our  
announce@httpd.apache.org and users@httpd.apache.org mailinglists. If  
they would like to participate in the development effort, anyone is  
welcome to join the dev@httpd.apache.org mailinglist as well, but  
nobody is required to do so. The fact that no one in the room needed  
to change or patch the web server code could also be considered a  
measure of its success.

If we are offered a speaking slot at a conference, and we have  
someone available that has the time and opportunity to speak, we are  
happy to participate. However, as an all-volunteer organization this  
doesn't always work out, and I don't think we actively try to find  
speaking opportunities. We also don't usually participate in trade  
shows and the like, but rely on word-of-mouth and press coverage to  
get the word out on our software. Also, many companies incorporate  
Apache software in their own products.

I hope that this serves to address your concerns somewhat.

Regards,

Sander

On Nov 6, 2006, at 9:25 AM, Brian McQueen wrote:

> I was at a conference for startups last week, and it would have been
> very useful to have someone there representing Apache.  It is going to
> drop from the minds of its target audience if its utility is not made
> obvious again and again, obvious and up-to-date.  There was a lot of
> talk about open source projects and how to use open source code and
> nobody but me mentioned Apache.  It should be the textbook example of
> how to run a successful open source project, and it should be an
> example of great engineering and there should be cases made for how
> and why to use it, and the startups should hear about it.  It was a
> missed opportunity.  I raised the question about how many folks depend
> on it, and the room was full of hands, but NONE of them are developing
> within it, none are involved with it.  Its just their web server.
>
> This awesome Apache thing you guys created is beginning to slide into
> obscurity, when its actually better now than ever and should be moving
> more steadily into the forefront.  Its no mere web server!
>
> So who is responsible for this type of activity?
>
> Brian McQueen
>
>


-- 
sctemme@apache.org            http://www.temme.net/sander/
PGP FP: 51B4 8727 466A 0BC3 69F4  B7B8 B2BE BC40 1529 24AF

Re: Who is Representing Apache?

[Nick Kew <ni...@webthing.com>]

On Tue, 7 Nov 2006 12:08:23 -0800
"Brian McQueen" <mc...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Yes, exactly the issue I am worrying about!  More companies need to be
> developing within Apache, and the new book should help out the
> situation a bit, but a new book isn't enough.  We also need to be at
> the meetings, spreading the news about what it can do for them.  They
> remember mostly that Apache delivers html and runs CGIs.
>

I don't know where you are (geographically), and therefore who
from Apache might be near you.  But there's nothing to stop you
putting forward a presentation on Apache to meetings like that
(provided you don't mislead your audience into supposing you
represent apache or the ASF in an official capacity yourself).
Post a draft and ask for comments if that helps.

-- 
Nick Kew

Application Development with Apache - the Apache Modules Book
http://www.apachetutor.org/

Re: Who is Representing Apache?

[Brian McQueen <mc...@gmail.com>]

Yes, exactly the issue I am worrying about!  More companies need to be
developing within Apache, and the new book should help out the
situation a bit, but a new book isn't enough.  We also need to be at
the meetings, spreading the news about what it can do for them.  They
remember mostly that Apache delivers html and runs CGIs.

On 11/7/06, Joachim Zobel <jz...@heute-morgen.de> wrote:
> Am Montag, den 06.11.2006, 09:25 -0800 schrieb Brian McQueen:
> > This awesome Apache thing you guys created is beginning to slide into
> > obscurity, when its actually better now than ever and should be moving
> > more steadily into the forefront.  Its no mere web server!
>
> This is the unfortunate social process that happens when a software
> system reaches maturity. During this process the software gets harder to
> use and develop. You end up with a system that is close to perfection,
> but is used by a very small number of people.
>
> VMS could do things, unix is still trying to reach today (versioning
> file system, transparent clustering). Who uses TeX? The Oracle database
> is probably on the same road, and there are quite shure others that come
> to mind within a few minutes of thinking.
>
> Apache is special because it is very widely used, but only a few people
> know what it can actually do.
>
> Sincerely,
> Joachim
>
>
>

Re: Who is Representing Apache?

[Joachim Zobel <jz...@heute-morgen.de>]

Am Montag, den 06.11.2006, 09:25 -0800 schrieb Brian McQueen:
> This awesome Apache thing you guys created is beginning to slide into
> obscurity, when its actually better now than ever and should be moving
> more steadily into the forefront.  Its no mere web server!

This is the unfortunate social process that happens when a software
system reaches maturity. During this process the software gets harder to
use and develop. You end up with a system that is close to perfection,
but is used by a very small number of people. 

VMS could do things, unix is still trying to reach today (versioning
file system, transparent clustering). Who uses TeX? The Oracle database
is probably on the same road, and there are quite shure others that come
to mind within a few minutes of thinking.

Apache is special because it is very widely used, but only a few people
know what it can actually do.

Sincerely,
Joachim