[Debian-np-devel] A question to Debian NP team

[Vagrant]

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> > We want customization.  We want to go to people and say "I'm aware
> > of your needs".
> >
> > It's like the difference between industrial, large scale made
> > dresses and tailor made dresses: tailor made dresses fit very well
> > on you; large scale made dresses fit most people, but not very well.
> This is exactly what we NOT do.=20

i think what i'd like to see debian-NP be is something in between- like
making a large-scale dress that will fit most people decently, but isn't
such a specialized dress that you couldn't still tailor it for a more
precise fit.  and to make it easy on the tailor so they can focus on the
subtle, interesting details...

> there is something good in windows that I'd like we preserve with debian =
np :=20
> the "ready to use" side.

from what i've seen so far, this is exactly one of the goals of
debian-np.  one of the main complaints about debian is that you have to
tweak a lot of somewhat arcane configuration files and options to get it
working well for the end-user.  i think debian-np and other custom
debian distributions are working to reduce or eliminate the need for
customization, while at the same time giving the end-user (or
administrator) the option to customize it as much as any conventional
debian distribution...

> > In my view, if you want to do a good service, you customize software for
> > your users.  You give to NPs a distribution for NPs, and to businesses a
> > distribution for businesses.
> What do you know about the differeces (in the use of their computers) bet=
ween=20
> NPOs and businesses ?

i think there is huge overlap.  but there are some things that are
different.

at least in the USA, there are totally different record-keeping
standards for non-profits and businesses- particularly around the
exchange of money.

many non-profit organizations have a huge volunteer database holding
contact information, volunteer hours, etc.  while businesses may have
some overlap with employees and other business associates, there are
definite differences in how you may need to keep track of it.

some non-profits are intentionally not like businesses.  they dislike
the aesthetic of the business world.  people at nonprofits have
expressed desire for their computers to be more "down to earth" or "less
clean-cut" or even "a little dirtier looking".

non-profit organizations aren't businesses, and vice-versa.  they are
not interchangeable.  because they are not identical, they will
inevitably have *some* different needs with computer software.

> > Of course you want to have as much things
> > as possible in common to ease support and development: that's where the
> > Custom Debian ideas comes into play.

there's already significant collaboration between debian-np and
debian-edu.  there are large similarities in the goals of the two
projects.

for the end-user sitting at a desktop, there are probably very few
differences between business and nonprofit organization's needs.

> Did you anwser to my proposal of changing the name ? Do you mean you pref=
er=20
> not change ?

i'm working with debian-nonprofit because i believe there are reasons to
make a custom distribution tailored to non-profits. so i don't see any
reason to change the name of the project just yet.

i don't think that means someone can't make debian-business or whatever.
i encourage them to do so.  and where our goals are similar, by all
means, let's work together- being lazy in a good way.

live well,
  vagrant

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