<div dir="ltr">I'd love to see a "Convention over Configuration" approach. What I mean is that OpenSim come configured for best practices.</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 10:13 AM, Maxwell, Douglas CIV USARMY ARL (US) <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:douglas.maxwell3.civ@mail.mil" target="_blank">douglas.maxwell3.civ@mail.mil</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Classification: UNCLASSIFIED<br>
Caveats: NONE<br>
<br>
Can someone explain to me why the core developers insist on control of the<br>
code, but refuse to manage the project? I ask again: what are your plans for<br>
the future of Open Simulator? It's ok to say you don't have any, let's make<br>
some!<br>
<br>
I'll throw out some ideas based on the MOSES goals and objectives:<br>
<br>
1) Scale limitations lifted. We need a system that is governed by its<br>
available hardware and network resources, not bound by software limits.<br>
<br>
2) Let's create clear definitions of "stability".<br>
<br>
3) Clear and up-to-date API documentation.<br>
<br>
4) Clear and up-to-date OS deployment guidance under numerous typical network<br>
topologies.<br>
<br>
5) Bug identification & reduction.<br>
<br>
6) Efficient ray tracing. Useful for simulation of sensors as well as<br>
naturalized bot interactions.<br>
<br>
7) N-body physics. Would be nice to have vehicles that can follow terrain<br>
and not look like Star Wars land speeders. Would also be nice to have more<br>
natural avatar movement rather than the rigid animations we use now.<br>
<br>
What are yours? Anyone?<br>
<span class=""><br>
v/r -doug<br>
<br>
Dr. Douglas Maxwell<br>
Science and Technology Manager<br>
Virtual World Strategic Applications<br>
U.S. Army Research Lab<br>
Simulation & Training Technology Center (STTC)<br>
(c) <a href="tel:%28407%29%20242-0209" value="+14072420209">(407) 242-0209</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</span><div><div class="h5">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: <a href="mailto:opensim-dev-bounces@opensimulator.org">opensim-dev-bounces@opensimulator.org</a><br>
[mailto:<a href="mailto:opensim-dev-bounces@opensimulator.org">opensim-dev-bounces@opensimulator.org</a>] On Behalf Of Justin Clark-Casey<br>
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 7:40 AM<br>
To: <a href="mailto:opensim-dev@opensimulator.org">opensim-dev@opensimulator.org</a><br>
Subject: Re: [Opensim-dev] The Future of Open Simulator(?) (UNCLASSIFIED)<br>
<br>
I won't comment much over future direction. However, Overte was never a<br>
governing entity, it was set up only to manage CLAs and maybe some other<br>
things in the future (which never got realized). Power over development<br>
direction has always been with the developers.<br>
<br>
CLAs for open-source projects tend to come from corporations running those<br>
projects that are very worried about getting sued. The vast majority have no<br>
such structures. It is very debatable whether anything other than the<br>
open-source license is needed.<br>
<br>
<br>
And there are many different project structures out there. Linux, for<br>
example, is controlled by a single individual who, along with a group of<br>
authorized lieutenants, controls everything that goes into the codebase. That<br>
is an evolution since Linus used to be the sole committer (and got overwhelmed<br>
by it).<br>
<br>
The direction of evolution is not inevitably to some managing organization.<br>
Or at the very least, the developers much always be in charge of what happens<br>
to the codebase.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Tue, Aug 11, 2015 at 5:59 PM, Maxwell, Douglas CIV USARMY ARL (US)<br>
<<a href="mailto:douglas.maxwell3.civ@mail.mil">douglas.maxwell3.civ@mail.mil</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
<br>
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED<br>
Caveats: NONE<br>
<br>
Projects evolve.<br>
<br>
I couldn't begin to estimate the amount of work that has gone into this<br>
valuable project. The potential for technical and economic success is<br>
profound and I see a bright future for the Open Simulator. That said, I fear<br>
we are at a crossroads at this time with this project.<br>
<br>
It is unclear at this time what the maintainers of the Open Simulator code<br>
have planned for the project. Is there a roadmap or some sort of<br>
goals/objectives you are working against? What development targets would you<br>
like to see met in 12, 16, and 24 months from now?<br>
<br>
The MOSES project has needs & requirements that we are stepping up and<br>
supporting with internal development, but we aren't the drivers for the Open<br>
Simulator project. We've done our own internal gap analysis and determined<br>
where in the OS code there should be investment in stability, monitoring, and<br>
scalability improvements. In short, we are returning our code to you to<br>
adhere and abide by applicable derivative source code licensing terms.<br>
<br>
I believe the removal of the Overte as a formal governing entity is a mistake<br>
if you plan to encourage participation from business and government. The CLA<br>
was viewed by my organization as a formalized relationship acknowledging the<br>
legal responsibility of open source code stewardship and use.<br>
<br>
If this were simply a hobby, then Overte and the CLA would not be needed.<br>
However, the Open Simulator is being used by businesses charging money for<br>
service, by researchers studying human behavior and technical behavior, by<br>
educators, and more. Like it or not, you have created a product that needs<br>
management and attention at a higher level than the ad-hoc method that is<br>
currently your standard operating procedures.<br>
<br>
Project management must evolve.<br>
<br>
As projects are started at the grass roots and then emerge as valued<br>
commodities, the need for different styles of management is required. A<br>
project with two active developers is different than a project with 20 or<br>
200.<br>
If the management does not evolve, then the project will be limited and<br>
growth<br>
is not possible. I encourage you to think about a new structure that can<br>
handle influx of large amounts of donated code in a short time. The kinds of<br>
investments needed to make this a world class simulator requires you to step<br>
up and begin project planning.<br>
<br>
This is a community effort.<br>
<br>
If the community values this work and would like to see it grow or even<br>
receive maintenance, then the community must voice. This code does not<br>
belong<br>
in the hands of a gov't agency or corporate entity. This code belongs in the<br>
hands of a strong non-profit that can handle grant and contract funds to pay<br>
a<br>
staff of maintainers, code reviewers, testers, and functional area code<br>
managers. This could be an Overte spin-off, or even an academic institution<br>
of some kind.<br>
<br>
I've given you a glimpse into what the next 9 months of development for the<br>
MOSES related Open Simulator issues. We came in this spring at a time when<br>
development seemed to be winding down and things were quiet after the 0.8.x<br>
releases. What will you do when we reach the logical conclusion of our work?<br>
What is next for Open Simulator?<br>
<br>
I look forward to your feedback and constructive discourse.<br>
<br>
v/r -doug<br>
<br>
Dr. Douglas Maxwell<br>
Science and Technology Manager<br>
Virtual World Strategic Applications<br>
U.S. Army Research Lab<br>
Simulation & Training Technology Center (STTC)<br>
(c) <a href="tel:%28407%29%20242-0209" value="+14072420209">(407) 242-0209</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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