PHP Lug?

[Tony Hammitt]

How about calling it 'Open Source Programmer's Forum'?  That way we can
confuse networking protocol guys by overloading OSPF (open shortest
path first). =-]

Which is what we ideally think open source is for; making the
development of a new application proceed along the shortest route by
avoiding duplication of effort.

Now the hard part.  How should we go about setting up such a forum?
Should we try to set up locally or try to get a national (worldwide)
organization started?  Is there anything like this already?  How many
people are interested in being involved?

You're quite right, the reason I suggested having a general purpose
programmers group is to quietly promote Open Source and free software. 
I think we're well on the way to convincing system administrators that
open source is the way to go, let's start working on the programmers
next.  Someday someone will come up with a way to convincing
secretaries and boss-types and our planned world domination will be
complete.

I think that such a group would have to have its members get involved
with the evil^H^H^H^H proprietary OS support groups around town.

So, what does everyone think?

Regards,

Tony

Dave Parker wrote:
> 
> Tony, I think you've got it!  An 'Open Source Programmers SIG'
> could start with us (KCLUG) and expand to include whoever was
> interested in the KC area - other Linux UGs and even other
> platforms.  Maybe a way to get some folks who are curious about
> open source or curious about what tools might be available for
> a one time project (or just in general).  An ideal opportunity for a
> little low-key, even surreptitious, Linux evangelism.  Think about
> it!  They wouldn't even have to know they're being converted!
> 
> Tony Hammitt wrote:
> >
> > I think that in general what is needed is something like 'Open Source
> > Programmers Groups' where people could get together and talk about
> > stuff in person and exchange ideas and code.
> >
> > I've found several times that, as a programmer, we're drowning in a
> > sea of options.  Choosing the right language/platform/protocol is the
> > most important aspect of starting a new project, but no one could
> > possibly have all of the information that they need to make the right
> > decision.
> >
> > Add in the universal need to fit the new project in with some preexisting
> > parameters and the choice becomes more important.  But it doesn't really
> > limit the number of options.  Say you want to set up a website, do you
> > use PHP? Perl? Python? Apache modules? Zope? ASP?...  Who knows?  The
> > only thing that's guaranteed is that you will find it difficult to switch
> > later.
> >
> > So, what we need is to have people to talk to that know more than the
> > marketing hype around a toolset.  Preferrably ones who know what not
> > to use because they found out too late that it stinks.  Pretty much
> > everything has some task that it is the best fit for, but is your task
> > similar enough?
> >
> > So, back to the point.  There probably isn't yet a PHP group.  Are you
> > interested in starting one?  I'd be interested in learning about it by
> > attending meetings as long as they aren't too frequent.  But I'd be a
> > lot more interested in attending a general purpose 'web programming'
> > group.  My expertise lies elsewhere but I will eventually need to know
> > more about web stuff, like all of the other programmers in the world...
> >
> > So, good idea!  Let us know if anything turns up.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Tony Hammitt
> >
> > Bradley Miller wrote:
> > >
> > > Does anyone know of a local lug for PHP?   Maybe we could start a Midwest
> > > PHP group -- the nearest one I've found is in Illinois I think. . . .
> > > here's the page listing them:
> > >
> > > http://www.moewes.com/phpug.php3
> > >
> > > --- Bradley Miller
> --
> Dave Parker/DLP, Inc.    dlparker at dlpinc.com    www.dlpinc.com
>