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Author Topic: Foundation dead?  (Read 6262 times)

jwdietrich

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Foundation dead?
« on: April 04, 2018, 10:03:01 am »
In http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,39387.msg281847.html#msg281847 someone states the Free Pascal and Lazarus foundation to be dead.

I am concerned. First, I think that the foundation is important, secondly, I have recently made a donation, only to learn that the foundation is dead.

Is this information true or the contribution of a troll?
function GetRandomNumber: integer; // xkcd.com
begin
  GetRandomNumber := 4; // chosen by fair dice roll. Guaranteed to be random.
end;

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Thaddy

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2018, 11:19:41 am »
Well. legally it is not dead. (That is easy to check for me since it is governed by Dutch law.)
But you have to ask its governors if it is really active. If it is not or is not able to serve its purpose I am willing to provide funds to keep it alive. That requires a phone call, not an email. (Due to health reasons only).
« Last Edit: April 04, 2018, 11:27:25 am by Thaddy »
Specialize a type, not a var.

ps

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2018, 11:47:01 am »
No activity/or response on G+ Group, same on FB group, same on Website ... i did donation at start, but nothing changed for years!
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jwdietrich

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2018, 12:06:17 pm »
No activity/or response on G+ Group, same on FB group, same on Website ... i did donation at start, but nothing changed for years!

Well, It can't be too many years, since the foundation registered its website in 2016, even before it was officially founded. At https://foundation.freepascal.org/projects the foundation lists three projects that have been completed with its help and it lists three ongoing projects.

But, of course, all these facts don't exclude it to be dead...
function GetRandomNumber: integer; // xkcd.com
begin
  GetRandomNumber := 4; // chosen by fair dice roll. Guaranteed to be random.
end;

http://www.formatio-reticularis.de

Lazarus 2.2.6 | FPC 3.2.2 | PPC, Intel, ARM | macOS, Windows, Linux

ps

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2018, 05:24:27 pm »
Small simple CSS/box model implementation: https://github.com/pst2d/csscontrols/tree/dev

wp

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2018, 05:29:36 pm »
I'd suppose that you post your concerns in the mailing list. Michael Van Canneyt, a co-founder of the foundation, rarely reads the forum but is quite active in the mailing list.

skalogryz

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2018, 05:57:44 pm »

jwdietrich

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2018, 09:08:18 am »
I'd suppose that you post your concerns in the mailing list. Michael Van Canneyt, a co-founder of the foundation, rarely reads the forum but is quite active in the mailing list.

Thanks for the tip. I asked and learned from Michael that the foundation isn't dead. See http://lists.lazarus-ide.org/pipermail/lazarus/2018-April/234427.html for his reply.
function GetRandomNumber: integer; // xkcd.com
begin
  GetRandomNumber := 4; // chosen by fair dice roll. Guaranteed to be random.
end;

http://www.formatio-reticularis.de

Lazarus 2.2.6 | FPC 3.2.2 | PPC, Intel, ARM | macOS, Windows, Linux

ps

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2018, 09:35:03 am »
Thanks for the tip. I asked and learned from Michael that the foundation isn't dead. See http://lists.lazarus-ide.org/pipermail/lazarus/2018-April/234427.html for his reply.
Ok, thanks. Now at least two people know that foundation is not dead and can contribute ... Or maybe there is enough funds in foundation so don't need more ...
Small simple CSS/box model implementation: https://github.com/pst2d/csscontrols/tree/dev

rvk

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2018, 09:49:01 am »
I'm still not sure what people consider "dead" but I don't think it is the task of a foundation to develop stuff themselves. They should promote stuff so that other developers become more active and they should be heard.

Hey, they say that themselves on the foundation website:
Quote
The Free Pascal and Lazarus foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and sponsoring of the open source projects.
I haven't seen the foundation do that actively.

Has anybody else?
(It could just be me)

Thaddy

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2018, 10:19:06 am »
As I understand it the foundation can provide and distribute funds for the extension and development of the language. Which means some new language features can and have been sponsored in such a way that it could - partially - provide a real income for real talented compiler developers. Meaning the advance of the language. That is a good thing. It is not an advertising budget......
(I have the time but only half the talent these guys have.., wouldn't work... %))
« Last Edit: April 06, 2018, 10:22:17 am by Thaddy »
Specialize a type, not a var.

Paul_

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2018, 03:45:53 pm »
I sent some money (not much) in the past but I really do not know if they were used.

There is missing:
1) Bigger transparency - how it works, state of the projects, possibility of direct project financing, account balance
2) Perhaps different way of financing (Patreon?), 1-5 USD monthly based payment can be better for the majority of people. In the longer term it can be win situation with domino effect
3) Advertisement on main page and forum, don't use Google+ and such dead and terrible sites. Maybe I'm getting old but 3 crazy columns of posts are just ... :)

Thaddy

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2018, 04:09:36 pm »
Well, the transparancy is already in place. It its just not clear to everyone. (That is not a contradiction in terms)
The foundation - as I understand it - is founded because at various points in time considerable contributions need to be accounted for.
These contributions have - in the majority of cases - been for specific purposes. E.g.: a company needs a feature or even a whole compiler....
But I guess minor donations are just as proper, do not misunderstand me.

And it is not about huge sums: 1000 here, 500 there, maybe. Unless when maybe a new platform is targeted on contract basis..
« Last Edit: April 06, 2018, 04:21:29 pm by Thaddy »
Specialize a type, not a var.

ps

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #13 on: April 06, 2018, 09:42:02 pm »
Look at blender foundation, this model is perfect https://www.blender.org/foundation/development-fund/ with month price ... with an official confirmation of receipt ... etc. and look at promotion ! This is perfect far far away from "our" invisible foundation.

With this model can foundation hire some full (part) time developers and speedup projects (eg. full Cocoa support before disappears with Intel -> ARM movement).
Small simple CSS/box model implementation: https://github.com/pst2d/csscontrols/tree/dev

jwdietrich

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Re: Foundation dead?
« Reply #14 on: April 06, 2018, 09:51:20 pm »
Look at blender foundation, this model is perfect https://www.blender.org/foundation/development-fund/ with month price ... with an official confirmation of receipt ... etc. and look at promotion ! This is perfect far far away from "our" invisible foundation.

With this model can foundation hire some full (part) time developers and speedup projects (eg. full Cocoa support before disappears with Intel -> ARM movement).

Perhaps it would in fact be a good idea if you express your concerns in the Lazarus mailing list (http://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus). Members of the foundation seem to be more adherent to the list processor than to this forum.
function GetRandomNumber: integer; // xkcd.com
begin
  GetRandomNumber := 4; // chosen by fair dice roll. Guaranteed to be random.
end;

http://www.formatio-reticularis.de

Lazarus 2.2.6 | FPC 3.2.2 | PPC, Intel, ARM | macOS, Windows, Linux

 

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