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How the FlightGear project works: Difference between revisions
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How the FlightGear project works (view source)
Revision as of 14:11, 9 February 2012
, 9 February 2012→You guys need some serious changes
m (moved How to the FlightGear project works to How the FlightGear project works: lol, after so many howtos I am apparently getting used to typing "how to" automatically now.) |
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First, I'd try to make sure I understand the situation as it is - not as it appears from my perspective, but also how it appears to others, of what nature the obstacles to change are and so on. Then I'd try to get to talk to some of the people who have the power to change things, and convince them that changing something would not just be better for me, but also be better for them - in fact be better for anyone around. In order to do so, I'd go as far as I can to meet them - talk their language, start describing things from their perspective, value their efforts - and then talk about that one can also see things from a different perspective. I'd do that because I want something - I want them to listen to me, so I want to make that as easy as possible. I'd also prepare a compelling and persuasive case - I'd try up front to sort genuine structural problems from things which are just one-time mistakes which can happen because people are not perfect, I'd sort important things from unimportant things and focus on the important things. Above all, I'd think about what I personally did wrong and what part of the problem I can fix - and how I should do it. And then I'd see if I can't convince anyone that there is merit in my perspective. In the process, I'd also try to find like-minded people who might help me achieve my goals. | First, I'd try to make sure I understand the situation as it is - not as it appears from my perspective, but also how it appears to others, of what nature the obstacles to change are and so on. Then I'd try to get to talk to some of the people who have the power to change things, and convince them that changing something would not just be better for me, but also be better for them - in fact be better for anyone around. In order to do so, I'd go as far as I can to meet them - talk their language, start describing things from their perspective, value their efforts - and then talk about that one can also see things from a different perspective. I'd do that because I want something - I want them to listen to me, so I want to make that as easy as possible. I'd also prepare a compelling and persuasive case - I'd try up front to sort genuine structural problems from things which are just one-time mistakes which can happen because people are not perfect, I'd sort important things from unimportant things and focus on the important things. Above all, I'd think about what I personally did wrong and what part of the problem I can fix - and how I should do it. And then I'd see if I can't convince anyone that there is merit in my perspective. In the process, I'd also try to find like-minded people who might help me achieve my goals. | ||
= Is this program just for scientists and engineers? = | |||
No, but at least historically, the FlightGear project tends to attract certain types of people, many of them having some sort of academic background and some involvement or interest in aviation, i.e. in engineering, maths, physics, IT/computing or just real life pilots (hobby, professional, test pilots, retired). | |||
This applies especially to long-term contributors. Obviously, the people who contribute for a long time, get to shape the project more so than people who just happen to show up and post some ideas, features requests or bug reports. | |||
In part, this is also due to the reputation they get to enjoy among fellow contributors, so their feedback has automatically also more weight, too. | |||
That might explain why many long-term contributors seem to have a fairly similar mindset, and why some things are done the way they are. | |||
Some of these decisions are hard to understand without having a similar background, be it education, professional experience, families, real life obligations and such. | |||
= Community interactions = | = Community interactions = | ||