Free Software Users Groups - part 2

Comes form Free Software Users Groups part 1

Profession and Contribution

Which is the relation of your profession with Free Software, how many hours do you dedicate to it and which is your personal motivation to contribute?. “My job is directly related to Free Software” – Enrique from UyLug, comments “and my dedication is less than I would like and more than my wife wants”. Leo Monks answer similarly “I dedicate quite a lot of time. Last year I was general coordinator of CaFeConf and then, I have to stop, otherwise I could not eat. This year I had to restart some activities out of LUG and my dedication has declined. Related to my profession, I work in GCoop, a cooperative that offers services based on Free Software” Luciano Ramallo also dedicates more time than he should. “There are activities, such as discussion lists, a sacred fortnightly meeting which are very demanding” – the president of Python Brazil association comments – “Besides, as the organization is in the process of constitution, the bureaucratic job is heavier than usual and so, I dedicate around of six hour a week. Alejandro Cura dedicates a day a week and its personal motivation is centred in growth. “I am very interested in Python, in education and the OLPC project” – comments. Finally, Roberto Allende dedicates around of five hour a week to contributions related to Plone Southern Cone.

Maturity

According to discussions that have taken place in the community, three stages are proposed in the maturity of a users group. The first one is centred in the device and the community generated around it. For example, Linux and its user groups. A second stage of evolution is reached when the sub-project could be distributions of Linux and its communities. In the end, the third stage of maturity is reached when the communities have power of lobby, which means they can generate change and adoptions in the society. In that sense participants were asked if they agreed with the pattern and, in case they were, in which stage they would place its communities.

Maturity Patterns of Users Groups

Enrique Verdes – “We started with Linux and then, we expanded the scope to Free Software. After a lot of work, the community was a trigger for more specific new sub-projects. This, along with bonds we have with universities and some changes in legislation. I believe we follow the pattern and we are in the third stage” I have to clarify our case because the people from CafeLug and Users of Free Software Argentina are same (USLA, its acronym in Spanish). USLA is gathering and providing services for communities such as Wikipedia Argentina, foundations as Via Libre, etc. I believe that USLA is a mature group. We are old and in fact, it is difficult for us to join new people committed with the project. Most of the members have been dedicating more time than they should for almost ten years”.

Luciano Ramalho – “Python Brazil began from devices such as sites and mail lists. Lists are easy to administer but not the sites. In consequence, it appears the necessity to organize a group. Besides that, the Association is generating new projects, such as formation of local groups, the conference PyCon Brazil, etc. I believe we are in the second stage”.

Alejandro Cura: “I am not sure that PyAr hopes to have lobby power, although the pattern is interesting” In any case, currently we are making several projects. I believe we are in the second stage”.
Roberto Allende: “Plone Southern Cone is in a formation process until now. Although Plone’s international community has a considerable level of maturity, in the case of Southern Cone, we are in process of organization yet.

Future and challenges

Unfortunately, time assigned to the panel was not enough to talk about several matters such as future and challenges faced by groups at this moment. Nevertheless, Enrique Verdes and Ernesto Silva (members of UyLug), outside the panel and revising talks, said that an important threat for users groups is what Ernesto calls “the bocce club syndrome”. According to him, many bocce clubs usually disappears because they were founded by a group of friends and they are not able to join new members. Then, as they stop playing or die, these clubs tend to disappear.

Personal conclusion

Taking in account that users groups are supported by voluntary work, ad honorem, it is amazing how far they have gone in our region. From a philosophical or political point of view, commitment with the cause or sustainability of the model, considered as a mode of production, make possible the generation of truly collaborative environments. Up to this moment, users groups have known how to stay, grow and spread Free Software’s technologies and philosophy efficiently. Having seen this successful precedent, it is possible to be optimistic about future challenges. The “bocce club syndrome” could be a problem if after well-known groups have disappeared, new groups do not occupy that place. An important point is lack of font code contributors, that is, commits in svn. However, with the strengthening of groups dedicated specifically to one technology in particular, such as PyAr, Python Brazil and Plone Southern Cone, it seems to be only a matter of time.