Re: Proposing Tracker for inclusion into GNOME 2.18

[Jeff Waugh <jdub perkypants org>]

<quote who="Jamie McCracken">

> > Jamie, can you please explain what exactly Tracker is and does?  I have
> > no idea what ‘first class object database’ means, so please explain what
> > you mean by that if you need to.
> 
> http://live.gnome.org/ResearchAndDevelopment/Tracker

Jamie,

You're proposing the addition of an entirely new technology to GNOME, with
the intention that at some stage it could enter the Platform and be used by
many (if not almost all) applications. You need to be clear, succinct, and
explain *what* it is, what it *does* and *why* it is important.

Think elevator pitch and use cases, rather than essay and hypotheticals.

During this discussion, you've pitched Tracker as an indexer competitive
with Beagle, then as a "first class object database" possibly in line with
the old Storage ideas, then suggested that the indexer was secondary to the
"first class object database". This doesn't really raise confidence in your
ability to define the problem space, let alone solve the problem.

Great technology loses out to poor communication (be it directly social or
"marketing") all the time. If you want to ensure your technology doesn't
fall into a coma of irrelevance, you *need* to step up and communicate it
well.

Thanks,

- Jeff

-- 
linux.conf.au 2007: Sydney, Australia           http://lca2007.linux.org.au/
 
     "Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system." - From Monty
                      Python to ESR, by way of Al Viro