On Mon, Apr 03, 2006 at 02:29:43PM -0400, Olin Lathrop wrote:
> Byron A Jeff wrote:
> > Simple. Don't do it. Offer the hardware at a reasonable price and rebate
> > that cost if you do get something useful. Then the recipient has to
> > invest in order to participate, and produce in order to benefit.
> 
> I've thought of that, but now the recipient has some up front cost which
> might deter some.

Olin,

That's not necessarily a bad thing. Those who are deterred probably wouldn't
have done the project anyway. Those who are not would have motivation to
recoup their investment.

>  They also have to trust me that I'll fork over the cash
> when the project is complete, which some might not. 

Again more of the same.

> Of course the up front cost will encourage some level of commitment.

Exactly.

>  Maybe I could offer a limited
> number of combined EasyProg/ProProg development packages for a reduced
> price?  But how to prevent people from just buying them for the good deal
> that don't have any intention of creating software for them?

You can't. The rebate serves as a balance against such activity.

> Maybe I should offer just a flat reward with a time limit?

A contest. Maybe.

>  $1000 plus
> refund the purchase price of a EasyProg and ProProg if suitable software is
> made publicly available within 6 months?

Personally I think that $1000 is a hefty prize. For that kind of money you
can probably contract someone to write it.

I don't think that you have any obligation to support the development of
Open Source software beyond what you've already done. However, it is often
a crapshoot precisely because there are only limited contractual obligations
attached.

In short it'll get done when some motivated developer really wants to get it
done. The incentives will contribute to that motivation, but I don't think
it'll drive it.

>  But what if various people try to take me up on the offer?

Contest.

>  I don't want to pay $1000 for each. 

Again I think it's unreasonable to have to pay that type of money at all.

> If just for the first one, then others are taking a chance and many 
>may decide it's not worth it.

That's the nature of a contest.

>  Maybe the first one gets the $1000 and any others get the
> purchase price refunded, as long something is produced within say 6 months?

That could be reasonable. However, you then run into the danger of having
multiple conflicting offerings.

Then there's the issue of support. Embed INC should no have any support
obligations for free software. I think this is where you may really want to 
think about trading funds. For the $1000 (or whatever) the developer must
actively maintain a support website for the software. In addition, all
customers who use that Open source software should be directed to that
site. Set up some time limit (like a year) to get all the bugs shaken out.

Just some thoughts.

BAJ
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