Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 05:24:55 -0600
From: Ean Schuessler <ean@novare.net>
To: java-linux@java.blackdown.org
Subject: Commercial Java Update

Hi,

Okay, here is an update on my interactions with JavaSoft and a
proposal for future directions:

I have had some very good discussions with people in sufficient
position to make things happen. There is definate interest and respect
in and for the efforts of the Java-Linux community. It is JavaSoft's
clear desire to try and make things happen for us.

After discussions with them I have formed a plan that I believe will
benefit us and make our support a palatable proposition for JavaSoft.
The core of their problems center around the fact that we are a loose
knit and roughly organized group and there is no deterministic path
for them to interact with us. The core of our problems with them
center around the fact that we are a large group of individuals that
need the type of support provided to a large organization.

To solve this problem I propose that we form a collective that handles
the interaction with JavaSoft and streamlines our actions. We should
provide facilities to the members of our collective for consolidating
bug reports, providing consolidated patches and updates, raising
issues and other needed interactions through a controlled and
consistent interface/staff. This will make us easier to deal with and
less energy consumptive. In return they can support us at a level
commiserate with our needs.

I propose that membership in the collective should cost $99 a year.
This fee will be used to cover operating expenses and to help fund
Sun's interactions with us. I would like to see this fee provide solid
and consistent CVS, bug-tracking, mailing list, e-mail, porting
platforms and other necessities for our operations. All account
transactions will be available for revue by the collective via a web
interface. I think that it would also be useful to provide a web /
mail based voting mechanism for the governing of the collective's
interests.

My company is willing to provide some amount of startup funding to
cover initial costs such as incorporation and administrative staff
setup. We should also be able to provide some additional porting
hardware for testing the VM on other platforms (ie. 68k, powerpc,
etc).

I think that it would also be interesting to use our funds to assist
the development of relevent projects such as Kaffe and Kore if we are
able.

There is my update.
-- 
__________________________________________________________________
Ean Schuessler                                 A guy running Linux
Novare International Inc.                  A company running Linux
--- Some or all of the above signature may be a joke


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