[olug] Real opportunity for getting Open Source into the Enterprise

[Andrew Holm-Hansen]

I don't know PHP but I know enough Java to get a servlet container to do 
the job.  I've gotten a sort of similar app working using a Postgres 
backend and Tomcat as the servlet container.  

I've also done some data conversion, though depending on the schemas and 
the amount of data to be converted I may decide to punt on this 
particular project.  

I'm willing, and I may even be able!

Andrew

Daniel Pfile wrote:

> It sounds like you need a simple database backed app, it could be 
> easily banged out in something like php or zope (or perl... gah) with 
> apache/postgresql pretty quickly. Just stick it on a server on site 
> and give your end users an url. There may even be something on 
> freshmeat that fits your needs out of the box.
>
> Just how complicated are the requirements for the membership system? 
> I've been looking to possibly do some volunteer work, but I'd like to 
> know what I'm getting myself into. Data conversion from the old system 
> is a big concern. How much automation is needed? Credit card 
> processing? Reports? Automated mailings? Etc etc...
>
> Heck, I'm thinking of getting some sort of side consulting business 
> going. I could file it under pro bono work and maybe get a tax write 
> off for it. (If that's possible...)
>
> Any body else interested in helping?
>
> -- Daniel
>
> On Monday, November 25, 2002, at 04:41 PM, bbrush at unlnotes.unl.edu wrote:
>
>> Hi.
>>
>> First let me apologize for the cross-post, but I didn't want to miss
>> anyone.
>>
>> During a meeting today I identified a real life opportunity for the Open
>> Source community so I'm putting the word out for all you programmers and
>> developers.  I'm neither so I'm not really going to be contributing 
>> much.
>>
>> First allow me to introduce myself as I don't post much.  My name is 
>> Bill
>> Brush and I'm a Network Engineer for NET (Nebraska Educational
>> Telecommunications).  I mainly do Lotus Notes
>> administration/support/development and Novell Netware administration, 
>> with
>> other duties "as assigned".  I don't do a lot with Linux, and I'd say my
>> skill is at the "competent/power user" level.  I can get it installed 
>> and
>> working but I can't devote a lot of time to tweaking it to get it to do
>> what I want so if it doesn't do what I need it to right off the bat, 
>> well
>> then it's back to "tinker" status.  So far I haven't found a 
>> distribution
>> that does everything that I need it to (Lycoris has come damn close
>> though).
>>
>> Anyway NET's mission is public television/public radio and distance
>> learning for schools.  A small part of this is "Pledge" which almost
>> everyone has seen or heard of.  In short NETV (the television segment of
>> NET) puts specials on the air and asks the viewers to donate money.  
>> Those
>> who do become "members".
>>
>> Now almost every public television station has a membership system 
>> (which
>> keeps track of the members, and their status).  This is where the
>> opportunity comes in.  The offerings for a membership system are 
>> EXTREMELY
>> limited.  The one that NET is currently using is antiquated and the 
>> company
>> has said they are going to quit supporting it (I think it's a Win16 
>> app).
>> The current apps are almost universally Oracle based which means big 
>> $$$.
>> Since only a very small portion of the public televsion departments can
>> afford that we are left with a large, growing pool of cash-strapped
>> stations with membership systems on life support and no real affordable
>> alternatives out there.  If a motivated group of developers were to band
>> together and create a membership system that uses Linux on it's back-end
>> and both Windows and Linux clients as an Open source project it would 
>> make
>> an almost sure bet to be adopted widely in a number of enterprises.
>>
>> Now for the disclaimer.  This is not an official NET project and as such
>> NET can not officially donate any resources.  Unofficially I can help 
>> pin
>> down what functionality is in the current system and requirements for
>> future systems.  I might even be able to get one of our resident
>> Linux-heads to contributing.  For myself my involvment would be pretty
>> peripheral simply due to time and work constraints.  I can get the 
>> map and
>> directions, but I can't drive the bus, nor can I ride it very far.
>>
>> If anyone wants a project that has the potential for wide-spread 
>> adoption
>> and real-life application, this looks like a prime opportunity.
>>
>> Let me know if anyone is interested.
>>
>> Bill
>> Nebraska Educational Telecommunications
>> CNA - Netware 6
>> 402-472-9333 ext 589
>>
>> Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre 
>> minds. The
>> latter cannot understand it when a [person] does not thoughtlessly 
>> submit
>> to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses their
>> intelligence.
>> --Albert Einstein
>>
>>
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