[advocacy-discuss] Motivating Contributions (was Proposal for OpenSolaris Mentoring Program)

[Bill Rushmore]

Jim Grisanzio wrote
> Yah, I had the same experience the year before on SoC. And, quite 
> frankly, it's been challenging in other parts of OpenSolaris to get 
> people involved as well. I had very little response to writing articles 
> and other non-technical activities, for instance. And it's been 
> challenging to grow new user groups, too, since we have no resources to 
> offer (shirts, kits, etc). So, I'm not sure what I can offer to motivate 
> people. All I have are projects and lists. :)
>
>   

I think there is one thing that Sun can do that might help contributions 
outside of Sun interested more in the OpenSolaris project.   People 
contributing to OpenSolaris should see doing so would be a career 
enhancing move.  After all, people are not likely to contribute if they 
don't see any benefit for them.  In my opinion Sun (and others) should 
use the contributors of the community as a resource for  recruiting 
people.  For example, looking for a student who is interested in 
operating systems to join the Solaris team? Need someone to port a 
driver for you?  Need a top notch Sys Admin?  Find them in the 
OpenSolaris community and when you do find them make sure people know 
about it. 

Do you realize that several months ago we started a OpenSolaris job list 
and we have not a single post to the list?  The first place a Sun HR 
recruiter should be going to look for a new hire is right here to the 
community.  I went to www.sun.com/jobs and just for the US I searched 
for "OpenSolaris" and I got back 99 hits.  So why not a single post to 
the OpenSolaris job list?  Where else would Sun find people anymore 
dedicated?  I believe that there have been a few people hired from the 
community but it was never really publicized heavily. It should, make a 
big deal about the fact that people that make great contributions get 
recognized.

Bill
rushmores.net