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Karel Jansens's Avatar
Posts: 3,220 | Thanked: 326 times | Joined on Oct 2005 @ "Almost there!" (Monte Christo, Count of)
#46
Originally Posted by andreww View Post
I don't think there's anything wrong with complaining about Linux, but how you complain determines whether it falls on deaf ears. While I would much prefer people use Linux, it doesn't actually harm me if they choose another product, with one exception: When they're contributing to OSS.

"If I can't program, I can't contribute to OSS" is actually not true. Here are some examples:
- While rants are one of the least helpful methods of contributing, it does at least give a voice and explain a problem.
- Free software is usually poorly documented. Writing a howto, language pack, etc. for a piece of software or explaining how to use multiple programs together goes a long way.
- I can program, but I'm not familiar with any of the problems with HWR. Digging around to find out about the algorithms used, any partial libraries that implement those algorithms, or otherwise creating a central repository for information could generate a lot of interest in it.
- Try to find some basic info about GUI design. I'm sure many developers would love it if a user provided a window mockup (or even Glade interface file!) for their app, and wouldn't mind improving the UI if a user willing to invest the time described it.

I won't claim that it's worth the time, but one last thing: Don't assume you can't program. You've already started if you've run a command in a shell. As soon as you're piping output or writing loops, assigning variables, you've already come pretty close. Of course, this information is only useful if you really want to

There are lots of people who don't necessarily write software on this forum that contribute to the Wiki, etc. It doesn't hurt to try to take another step and see what else you can do if you want to take the time.
I do contribute. I don't do any of the things you mentioned above (anymore) because I either don't know how or don't have the time for it.

Instead I do the easy thing: I give money. Do you want a list of OSS developers/projects I've donated to? I think (without bragging or giving out numbers) you'd be surprized at the amount.

As to the subject of HWR, just about any useful algorithm is private property and not OSS-ed. I do the only thing I can do: Write to the companies who own those algorithms and try to convince them that porting their software to Linux is a good thing and bound to make them much money in the forseeable future.

I knew of one person who claimed to have developed an algorithm that could compete with the commercial stuff, but a computer crash wiped his info from my ersatz memory. He was German, I believe his name was Dr Limburg or Limburger and the last thing I heard of him was when he offered his algorithm to be incorporated into the Xstroke codebase. Xstroke is now virtually dead, I can't find archives of the mailing list and obviously his algorithm didn't go in. If anybody knows about this guy, please ask him to reconsider, maybe get in touch with the CellWriter people, who look to be the only ones producing something that even resembles HWR for Linux.
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