“The web is a miracle”
What Ben said. https://werd.io/view/62015316f81f8904a47768f2
@baldur @benwerd I agree with 99% of the post, but I want to point out that Tim Berners-Lee subsequent attempt is not a startup. The correct link to refer to Solid is solidproject.org. There are others working on Solid besides Inrupt, and that includes indie developers with no eyes on profit (such as me). Even Tim Berners-Lee's involvement with Solid is not purely commercial. That doesn't invalidate the main point of the article, but I think it's important to make the distinction.
@noeldemartin @baldur @benwerd
You are right, Noel. But I feel that there's a strange shift in dynamics, most likely (but opinions may vary) due to how the commercial interests relate to the project.
Quite a few times people, including me, have mentioned that the community is sort of seen as an afterthought, not really actively advocated to.
The Solid community could be large and vibrant right now, yet in my perception people come, are very active, and then their engagement diminishes.
@noeldemartin @baldur @benwerd
But as I am saying this, I realize it is as someone who likes to monitor the project from a bit of a distance. It might well be that the vibrant community is in the chat channels and the many boards that exist.
I feel getting involved there is much higher barrier for newcomers and would love to see the forum more active, and with core team members interacting there. But I have given up on argumenting for that to happen. There's no interest or (more likely) time.
@humanetech @baldur @benwerd Sure, I agree that those problems exist. And I agree that what happened with the web is very unlikely to happen with Solid. But anyone reading that article without any context may think that Tim's idea of Solid is a startup, and that he's given up on his public-minded ideals. But I don't think that's true.
The fact of how it's turning out is a different topic. If Tim created the web today with the same mindset, it wouldn't produce the same results either.
@noeldemartin @baldur @benwerd
Yes, the distinction should be clearly made, and there was a good chance for confusion.
OTOH, and why I'm reacting, is that to me it is really unknown how strong the boundary between startup and open project are.
For instance the community manager was working for Inrupt (but may not have been the solidproject community manager).
TBL himself drops in on the forum, posts something and then never checks in again to respond. Sure, he's a busy guy, but hey c'mon.
@humanetech @baldur @benwerd Yes I agree that the boundary between Inrupt and the Solid Community is fuzzy, and maybe there's not as much activity in the community as we would like. But I just wanted to clear up that it's definitely not 100% commercial. As to how much % is commercial or not, that's up for debate.
