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Yeah, this seems like a pretty hard sell -- not because there isn't
logic in what you say, but because, despite the logic of what you say,
they have made it pretty clear they want to go in a different direction
as far as a business plan. As you say, this is more about your own
sanity, but, if I was in your shoes, I would view these conversations
as opportunities to create points of reference. <br>
<br>
When an organization is making money, it's hard to persuade anybody to
change the focus/plan. However, by creating these points of reference
now, you will have less talking to do if/when things slow down.<br>
<br>
So, say it now to keep yourself sane. Say it later to help them
continue making money. When it becomes clear that your advice will get
them more business, at that point, I think they'll listen.<br>
<br>
Bill<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Bill Fitzgerald
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.funnymonkey.com">http://www.funnymonkey.com</a>
Tools for Teachers
503.897.7160</pre>
<br>
Dan Robinson wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid43F02F24.3010501@civicactions.com" type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">The "Costs of forking" thread has focused on how to convince clients that OSS
software like Drupal is a good thing, and that the benefits are worth it.
Good stuff. :-) I have a slightly different problem, however.
I work at a small web development consulting company that has just doubled in
size in the past few months. The developer (singular) who wrote our old
codebase has mostly left, and everyone agrees the old CMS code is
unmaintainable. Lucky me, I get to write the new one. :-) Fun as it sounds
to write a CMS from scratch on a deadline and then turn around and use it on
a client site almost immediately, I'd much rather switch the company over to
Drupal then write a rushed Drupal-inspired hacked-up CMS. I've mentioned it
a few times, and so far haven't gotten a firm no but mostly have gotten
waffling "we'll see".
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->well you could always take the drupal code base and fork it :). I mean
what is their business model? Are they in the business of creating a
new CMS - doesn't seem very swift to me.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">If I can get an actual discussion on the table somehow, any suggestions on how
to sell both my fellow developers and designers and management on Drupal?
They made it clear when I was hired that we're not an open source shop, since
I'm a big open source fan, although we do current use some LGPLed stuff in
various places and we make it a point that we always own the code, not the
client. I want to wedge that door wider, for my own sanity if nothing
else. :-)
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->sounds like they think that their business model depends on their
ability to lock their customers into license agreements. It is a little
hard to see how this is compatible with a Free software business
strategy. At any rate my 2 second opinion is that you will get no
traction trying to argue it from a code/engineering angle. The only way
to get anywhere is probably to convince them that there business model
isn't really that workable - that'll be fun :).
Good Luck,
Dan
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Thoughts?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->_______________________________________________
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<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:consulting@drupal.org">consulting@drupal.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting">http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
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