Forum > FPC development
How can I help promote and advance Lazarus?
tan:
It's maybe a little early for me to be asking this, but I would like to get involved with the developer community and help promote Lazarus. Self interest, really. There aren't really any choices I am aware of for GUI/business development on Linux. Yes, in theory I could pick a "more modern" language and try to bolt on a GUI - but mostly I see a lot of bloat and complexity and uncertainty.
Is there a channel where the developers talk and would I be welcome to hang out? I may not be a software developer any more but I am pretty skilled business-man.
I was really amazed to discover Lazarus as a Delphi and C# and, I guess, Java alternative for solid, practical business application development. And especially amazed that something which seems so solid and polished and generally amazing is nearly unheard of in the greater programming community.
And I think that can be changed. And I'd like to participate in that rising up.
Again, is there a channel for discussions on FP/Lazarus plans? Is there any sort of annual national or international get together? Is there any group involved in "marketing" and general promotion?
I'm hoping there is already some plan for Lazarus to explore web-assembly (or is there some fundamental reason why that is unreasonable that I am not aware of)?
Hopefully it is okay I posted here. I'm pretty excited to have found such a vibrant and mature and cross-platform post-Delphi community! It would be fun to be part of something so amazing. You developers have a lot to be proud of!
lainz:
Maybe here you can try to join the lazarus foundation
http://foundation.freepascal.org/
And about web assembly, was discussed here in the forum with no positive result as far as I remember, google it.
But they're working on Pascal to JavaScript that's better. Maybe if that works they can do Pascal to asm.js that's not that optimized as web assembly but is faster than JavaScript (is a subset).
tan:
Ok. I just sent a message via the link you provided to the foundation asking for more information on how to make a donation and what voice I might have in where the money goes.
As I said in my brief message, I am especially interested in strengthening Linux and DATABASE and maybe report-writer support. Web Assembly would seem to be a smarter future-proofing target right now than another cross compiler to javascript, but maybe that is too far ahead. First, stabilizing / completing and documenting any important and critical parts of the current implementation across platforms would seem more important. And then getting word out more clearly, of course, on what awesomeness already exists (existence of Lazarus itself - I presume as a FP application? - says a LOT).
I am still taking baby steps with Lazarus personally. Scratching my head a bit trying to learn the GUI and get basic database function working. I think a better tutorial on that might be a useful place to get started as what I've seen so far by way of documentation with DB is kind of spotty (the Laz documentation on the whole, though, is surprisingly good!)
If that goes well and seems solid under Linux (probably postgresql) I'll begin thinking about maybe moving a large mission critical accounting system from C#/Win to maybe Laz/Linux. I had some TP experience years ago but had never seen Delphi and had NO idea about Lazarus.
I followed the link to the "roadmap", also, but that is not very explicit ... nor very inspiring. Who are the visionaries and main developers here? Just developing and delivering a cogent VISION/ plan for the next year or two would bring a lot of positive energy to the work, I expect. I am pretty sure that vision exists, or things wouldn't be so far along already. Articulating and planning and, yes, *marketing* better could probably translate to a lot of additional support. What you guys have done, virtually unknown to the world, is really AMAZING!
Phil:
--- Quote from: tan on April 19, 2017, 02:23:32 am ---I'll begin thinking about maybe moving a large mission critical accounting system from C#/Win to maybe Laz/Linux. I had some TP experience years ago but had never seen Delphi and had NO idea about Lazarus.
--- End quote ---
What's your business case for that? Is it a desktop accounting system? Linux desktop has very little presence in the outside world. And as we move further into the post-desktop world, Linux desktop will have less and less relevance.
However, Linux on the server, particularly on AWS, is on the rise. So anything that helps Pascal developers write Web-based or server-based software would be helpful.
I certainly would not rewrite a stable Windows accounting system unless you're moving it to the Web.
tan:
Phil, I'm a little contrary - it's made me a lot of money, though, so I'm inclined to continue to follow my hunches when they are strong enough and backed by enough evidence.
Things are looking rather dystopian to my eye. We used to have privacy both from other businesses and from our own governments. No more. We used to own our tools. No more -- our tools increasingly own us. Microsoft is asserting that our data is ITS data. Intuit (Quickbooks) is openly and actively squeezing its customers with endless bogus "upgrades" which don't actually upgrading anything worth upgrading. Of course - as everyone *should* know (but probably don't) - once your information is in the "cloud" you have effectively made it "open source". The IRS can audit you every day of every year -- and probably can do that as a matter of routine and without a warrant. And the leaks, and ransoms get worse every day. And my new "smart" TV thinks I am an idiot: I have no voice in getting rid of its endless, increasing forced advertising (even though I supposedly "own" the TV I certainly don't control it).
Anyway, I predict -- and I am willing to put money on it -- the cloud is only the future for idiots and consumers who are willing to be led by the nose. And they are not being led for their own benefit, obviously.
A better future is to OWN your own data, and certainly control your own software from endless, generally bogus "upgrades" which only seem to proliferate size, complexity, reliance on outside "priests", security violations, and -- of course -- bugs.
I have a sales office with maybe a dozen networked CSRS taking orders. The custom software was written in C# but the developer passed on last year. We are maintaining it in-house now but we don't fully understand it (who ever does, even if documentation is good...which it regrettably isn't). And there are more features needed as the business expands and changes. But we would have stuck with Microsoft EXCEPT Microsoft sprung fangs last year so I am not going to EVER allow an "upgrade" (downgrade, actually) to Win 10 or beyond.
Microsoft (as with Google) has suckered a lot of people, and businesses. But I'm awake now and I'm getting out.
I think you are very, very, very wrong about the desktop being dead. And Linux (well, maybe BSD) is increasingly looking like the ONLY option for businesses who don't want to be used and abused ... basically pimped out and gang raped.
Anyway, take it from me: there is a LOT of money to be made in the future providing an alternative to the dystopia which is being crammed down our collective throats under guise of "better".
Hmm. I guess that was an off-topic rant. Hope that is okay. Back on topic, there is a huge need for software which provides solid function and just works. Get off the forced farce we are all being coerced to join "voluntarily" and a lot of time and energy can be freed up to make a better business and more money.
And if Laz is solid on Linux (haven't had a chance to really check it out yet, keep in mind) or can be made to be solid than it really appears to have NO competition at the moment in the small business niche.
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