I showed them, right?

So, of course, I was shocked when the director came to me later and mentioned that I seemed to have a happy talent for composition- and asked whether I would mind working on a few project plans that the CIO wants by end of day.

The Project plan spans up to November 2002 and has over 150 items. It's going to be a bad day. Lunch? Ha! Well, the fiancé did want me to lose some weight...

So, later, I have scheduled up until about July, when I look up. It's Polywog and the Database Administrator. They look very excited. I know better than to think that it's a good thing.

"Remember when we discussed the possibility of moving the Oracle Application Server to Linux?" the DBA smiles.

"Sure." I reply, hoping that this doesn't somehow involve more work.

"We think that technically it would be much, much better. We just need to convince the head of the department that it will work."

"Convince him that it will work? Sure, I will requisition two test boxes for Polywog who can crank out an installation- fail-over clustering and all."

(The magic clustering trick- power off one server and magically not be down- convinces unknowing skeptics that this Open Source stuff really is incredible.)

Polywog interjected. "Only problem I see is that he (the department manager) doesn't like the concept of Open Source software- he's die-hard HP/UX."

"I think," I smiled, "that I have that base covered."

How is that? Because I have read Embracing Insanity, Russell Pavlicek's guide to the Open Source Community. (Oh- and I had already passed a copy to the Director.)

Why? Because Russ's book is the book that you give to your manager so that he understands the Open Source Community. (I wish someone had given a copy to the idiot investors who just declared technology stocks a bust because they themselves had flooded the market with false expectations.) This book is really a definitive guide to the entire open source movement. Not just the community, not just the business model, but the whole movement. From dispelling popular misconceptions to suggestions on how to proceed as a newbie to the community (as a developer or just as a layman), Russ really covers the gambit of Open Source related issues.

He starts by explaining some background of the movement, how and why it has become such a force in the computing world. Personally, I would have enjoyed a little more detailed history, but in truth, I have a bit of a computer history fetish. The book included an ample explanation for a newbie. Next up is a course in the social mores of geek culture, why community is not communism and then why the policy of truth is so important when dealing with the community.

Russ goes on to settle many of the doubts that people may have about the movement He then moves on to provide an excellent instructional for new people who may be considering becoming involved in the community, using open source resources or even companies considering open sourcing proprietary software. The section on when and when not to open source is perhaps the best reasoning that I have heard on the matter.

The book wraps up with a "Who's who" in the open source community- people, sites, companies, projects- and finally, a thorough dissertation of the various licenses in the industry. He even covers the sides on the "Linux' or "GNU-Linux" Debate.

Unfortunately for myself, I began this book shortly before Linux World Expo in New York City- and spent all of my free time reading. I had expected more of a dry read, but instead, I found that the book was interesting and involving. I feel that a lot of what this covered, especially the "Fear Uncertainty and Doubt" sections, really needed to be put down in such an eloquent manner. This book really does tell it as it is, and without going down like a dry anthropological read or an incensed zealot's sermon as previous attempts have seemed to do.

My conclusion?

Use this book to treat skeptics whose symptoms include fear, uncertainty and doubt. One dose should do it.

Paperback- 177 pages (September 15, 2000)
Sams; ISBN: 0672319896