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Difference between revisions of "Challenges"
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Then there are some other people who are interested in FOSS and interested in studying new things and experimenting.Our major IT human resource is concentrated in big IT companies.We know that most of the Indian IT professionals are working late night. 90% of them are working more than 10 hours a day. Only a small percentage of people are finding time to learn and contribute(I know that finding time is a matter interest). I think this is a major reason for less contribution from IT professionals. | Then there are some other people who are interested in FOSS and interested in studying new things and experimenting.Our major IT human resource is concentrated in big IT companies.We know that most of the Indian IT professionals are working late night. 90% of them are working more than 10 hours a day. Only a small percentage of people are finding time to learn and contribute(I know that finding time is a matter interest). I think this is a major reason for less contribution from IT professionals. | ||
I think awareness is the first thing, then comes learning with interest. Then only contribution will come. | I think awareness is the first thing, then comes learning with interest. Then only contribution will come.<ref>[http://lists.sarovar.org/pipermail/plus-discuss/2006-December/000562.html Santhosh Thottingal in plus]</ref> | ||
[Ram]: For the past couple of years, my day job has been consuming 80% of available time, the rest I have to spend with my family and care for their needs. With very little time left for other activities (related to FOSS, hobbies, etc), it is an uphill task to sustain the interests, manage time for FOSS activities. I got registered for the recent FOSS.in/2006 but could not attend it, even though it was spread over a week-end. Am seriously thinking of giving up my day job to work as part-time consultant and involve myself in FOSS activities and spend quality time with my family and kids, even if it means I have to earn less than the current pay. | [Ram]: For the past couple of years, my day job has been consuming 80% of available time, the rest I have to spend with my family and care for their needs. With very little time left for other activities (related to FOSS, hobbies, etc), it is an uphill task to sustain the interests, manage time for FOSS activities. I got registered for the recent FOSS.in/2006 but could not attend it, even though it was spread over a week-end. Am seriously thinking of giving up my day job to work as part-time consultant and involve myself in FOSS activities and spend quality time with my family and kids, even if it means I have to earn less than the current pay. | ||
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==Complacency== | ==Complacency== | ||
Big IT boom in India gives people jobs easily; and when you do a cosy job, you lose | Big IT boom in India gives people jobs easily; and when you do a cosy job, you lose | ||
half of the motivation. It is a case of innovation being killed due to complacency. | half of the motivation. It is a case of innovation being killed due to complacency.<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14880 Sameer Kelekar in ilug-goa]</ref> | ||
==Social Setup== | ==Social Setup== | ||
As a society, there is a lot of pressure on people to be successful immediately; and success here means making money. This means that if one were to tread the road not taken, one has to withstand the pressure from friends, family, relatives blah | As a society, there is a lot of pressure on people to be successful immediately; and success here means making money. This means that if one were to tread the road not taken, one has to withstand the pressure from friends, family, relatives blah | ||
blah blah. What adds to this is the lack of knowledge about FOSS and such things among the common folks (read one's parents, relatives etc). | blah blah. What adds to this is the lack of knowledge about FOSS and such things among the common folks (read one's parents, relatives etc).<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14880 Sameer Kelekar in ilug-goa]</ref> | ||
We also are not trained to think in a creative manner. Succumbing to authority comes more natural to Indians rather than being free and think freely. Of course there are exceptions, but in general as a rule. | The whole atmosphere around is counterproductive to innovation and risk taking. Those who fail are not looked upon well by the Indian society. What matters to the society in India is success; the means does not matter.<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14880 Sameer Kelekar in ilug-goa]</ref> | ||
We also are not trained to think in a creative manner. Succumbing to authority comes more natural to Indians rather than being free and think freely. Of course there are exceptions, but in general as a rule.<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14880 Sameer Kelekar in ilug-goa]</ref> | |||
"perfect job = government job and perfect computer means computer with windows". | "perfect job = government job and perfect computer means computer with windows". | ||
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WITHOUT PAYING ANY THING?" | WITHOUT PAYING ANY THING?" | ||
people here believe that innovation is nothing but a hobby and waste of | people here believe that innovation is nothing but a hobby and waste of | ||
money and time. | money and time.<ref>[http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/pipermail/linuxers/Week-of-Mon-20061211/055840.html Krishnakanth Mane in glug-bom]</ref> | ||
==Education System== | ==Education System== | ||
Also, we are to blame to quite some extent. Our education system does not encourage free thinking, or even thinking for that matter. It is learn by rote. IMHO, all CS/IT courses in india are more of History courses. | Also, we are to blame to quite some extent. Our education system does not encourage free thinking, or even thinking for that matter. It is learn by rote. IMHO, all CS/IT courses in india are more of History courses.<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14889 Dhaval Giani in ilug-goa]</ref> | ||
Students in most institutions (exceptions are IITs, IISc, NITs, et. al.) live in their own shell, without any exposure to the real world or the industry. So, | Students in most institutions (exceptions are IITs, IISc, NITs, et. al.) live in their own shell, without any exposure to the real world or the industry. So, | ||
they don't have the technical know-how or skills for any development, let alone FOSS development. | they don't have the technical know-how or skills for any development, let alone FOSS development.<ref>[http://mm.glug-bom.org/pipermail/linuxers/Week-of-Mon-20061204/055839.html Shakthi Kannan in glug-bom]</ref> | ||
There is a _huge_ gap between academia and the industry (exceptions are IITs, IISc, NITs, et. al.), so the academia folks have absolutely no idea what the | There is a _huge_ gap between academia and the industry (exceptions are IITs, IISc, NITs, et. al.), so the academia folks have absolutely no idea what the | ||
industry is doing. Industry is more focused on servicing international clients, for obvious reasons. | industry is doing. Industry is more focused on servicing international clients, for obvious reasons.<ref>[http://mm.glug-bom.org/pipermail/linuxers/Week-of-Mon-20061204/055839.html Shakthi Kannan in glug-bom]</ref> | ||
==Financial Constraints== | ==Financial Constraints== | ||
Secondly getting exposure in the various international forums is not cheap. What I mean by this is, there is only some extent to which you can learn from books. To learn more, you need to first do something, understand what happens, why it happens, interact with experts. This happens by writing research papers, | Secondly getting exposure in the various international forums is not cheap. What I mean by this is, there is only some extent to which you can learn from books. To learn more, you need to first do something, understand what happens, why it happens, interact with experts. This happens by writing research papers, | ||
participating in various conferences. Most of them are very expensive | participating in various conferences. Most of them are very expensive | ||
by Indian standards. | by Indian standards.<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14889 Dhaval Giani in ilug-goa]</ref> | ||
[Ram]:One may start with contributions (good content matters) to online and print magazines, like for example, www.linuxgazette.net, SysAdmin. This would surely provide the necessary confidence to the individual and push them forward to do much more. | [Ram]:One may start with contributions (good content matters) to online and print magazines, like for example, www.linuxgazette.net, SysAdmin. This would surely provide the necessary confidence to the individual and push them forward to do much more. | ||
==Bandwidth== | ==Bandwidth== | ||
Connectivity. Contributing to FOSS in terms of code does require | |||
decent connectivity. | decent connectivity.<ref>[http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/pipermail/linuxers/Week-of-Mon-20061211/055848.html Devdas Bhagat in glug-bom]</ref> | ||
Only available in metros? Lack of introductory materials in an easily accessible (printed) form. | Only available in metros? Lack of introductory materials in an easily accessible (printed) form. | ||
Some people think this is not an issue including Kenneth Gonsalves and Philip Tellis | |||
Chacko made major contributions to XFCE on slow diallup. Bad | |||
connectivity makes things more difficult and time consuming, but if | "no no no. I know projects that have used email to develop. Biju | ||
you want to do it, you will do it. | Chacko made major contributions to XFCE on slow diallup. Bad | ||
connectivity makes things more difficult and time consuming, but if | |||
you want to do it, you will do it." - [http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/pipermail/linuxers/Week-of-Mon-20061211/055850.html Kenneth Gonsalves in glug-bom] | |||
"nonsense. it never stopped me and all I had was a VSNL student account. If | |||
you have any connectivity at all, that's sufficient." - [http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/pipermail/linuxers/Week-of-Mon-20061211/055855.html Philip Tellis in glug-bom] | |||
==Consumer Mentality== | ==Consumer Mentality== | ||
We should encourage people develop a producer culture. | We should encourage people develop a producer culture. | ||
Develop a "Good User" culture. | Develop a "Good User" culture. <ref> [[Talk:Challenges|Kapil in the discussion page of the same article article]] </ref> | ||
(a) A good user reacts to all glitches by filing a "Good Bug Report" --- (need a link here on how to write good bug reports). | (a) A good user reacts to all glitches by filing a "Good Bug Report" --- (need a link here on how to write good bug reports). | ||
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Even with all these challenges we have some [[contributors]] which we can be proud of. | Even with all these challenges we have some [[contributors]] which we can be proud of. | ||
== Sources and notes == | |||
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