[GLLUG] GLLUG: Collaboration

[Thomas Hruska]

Dan Ryan wrote:
> Evening folks,
> 
> I've been reading through the mailing list for some time now, and lately I
> have been wondering if there's ever been an effort to collaborate on a
> project within the group.  I'd imagine that with the sheer amount if
> knowledge and skills we all possess, we could rock something out pretty
> fiercely.
> 
> Just a thought (and a compliment for you all)
> 
> Any ideas?  Or problems that one might face?  I'm very curious!
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Dan Ryan

I doubt that a project could be done by the group.  It would take 
considerable effort to agree on a programming language let alone a 
project of unknown origins and goals.

Clay asked the essential question and I ask it as well:  What project do 
_you_ have in mind?  If you outline specific objectives, a solution 
might already exist - either by combining technologies or a single 
already-existing solution - and we can point you in the right direction.

If you don't have a project in mind, then this discussion is pointless.

Also, I think you are overestimating the capabilities of the majority of 
the people in this group.  The range of knowledge is varied but from 
what I've seen, very few in the group are actually capable of taking a 
project definition and writing _code_ for a compile-time environment to 
go from concept to completion.  Most are part of this group to learn how 
to use what someone else has written...two very different ballgames.

Also, to do a group project would require everyone to be capable of 
writing code in the same language.  There would have to be agreement 
over what language to use.  I prefer C/C++ but I know just about every 
popular language.  Someone else will prefer Perl.  Someone Python. 
Someone Ruby?  Someone else Java.  You get the idea.  No matter what 
language you choose you will lose some people because they either don't 
know the language or they simply aren't interested enough in the project 
to use something other than their favorite.

Then you are going to have to deal with multiple styles of programming, 
quality of code (some are better than others), bickering over tab 
formatting because someone uses emacs, another VIM, and I would probably 
use Visual Studio, and other general in-fighting.


Of course, now that I'm reading other responses before sending this, 
maybe you meant something other than programming.  I need to get out 
more - my mind wanders way too easily to the topic of programming.  :)

--
Thomas Hruska
CubicleSoft President
Ph: 517-803-4197

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