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List:       kde-linux
Subject:    Re: [kde-linux] KDE finances
From:       Sean McGlynn <sean () tmiau ! com>
Date:       2003-03-14 23:32:11
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On Friday 14 March 2003 22:54, Andrei Raevsky wrote:
> Hi Sean
>
> Well yes, I confess that was concerned about KDE going out of business...
> I confess I know NOTHING about KDE itself, and surely $$$ must be a factor
> for them too?

Nope, you're still thinking of KDE as a business; think of it more in terms 
of a hobby with a hell of a lot of hobbyists :-)

[and like many hobbies, KDE is taken *very* seriously by some of its 
participants]

> They are putting out TOP quality software, much better then
> the competition if you ask me, and they must have costs, no?

Not in the sense that a business has costs, no (with some exceptions); the 
software is created by unpaid volunteers for the most part. They all have 
their own reasons for participation. It is possible to make contributions or 
otherwise sponsor the project. Have a look at http://www.kde.org/support/ for 
details. In fact, browsing around the main KDE website at http://www.kde.org/ 
should answer most of your questions.

> Is there NO
> KDE business model?

It's not a business, it's a community. No business == no business model. One 
of the developers (Ralf Nolden) sums it up well in his email signature:
"We're not a company, we just produce better code at less costs."

> Cheers,
> Andrei
>
> PS: and going to war WITH the Ukranians, Poles or Spanish looks like what?
> a bad need for a figleaf?

[those who don't understand this comment can look at my email signature :-]

Andrei, you're off-topic unless you respond in your email signature or in 
private mail :-)

Cheers,
Sean


> > On Friday 14 March 2003 22:29, Andrei Raevsky wrote:
> >> Hi,
> >
> > Hello Andrei,
> >
> >
> >
> > Not sure what you mean exactly. KDE isn't a business like Mandrake, SuSE
> > or  RedHat etc.; KDE is a project and its "workforce" are volunteers
> > (although a  few people are sponsored to work on it part/full time by
> > various
> > organisations).
> >
> > If your worried about it "going out of business", it won't or, indeed,
> > can't  ;-)
> >
> > If you've got a more specific question, feel free to ask.


-- 
Sean McGlynn
sean@tmiau.com

Going into a war without France is like going deer hunting without an 
accordion player.
(borrowed from kuro5hin.org posting ;-)
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