What is the Best Way to Start a Paid GPL Project?

pooslinger writes "I know little to nothing about programming but would like to start, fund, and maintain a GPL linux POS application. I see there are a few available with the majority being closed source. I am currently starting a business and really despise the fact that I will have to spend $2-$5k on a proprietary solution. I would like to create an application where you could take a midrange PC, connect inexpensive touchscreens, barcode readers, thermal printers, credit card readers, etc; scan/input inventory; and begin selling. Something like a Debian POS distribution that boots into X and starts a POS terminal. Does something like this exist, am I just trying to reinvent the wheel?" How have other people approached starting a new GPL project, finding talent, and ensuring the code choices best benefit the community?

Before the jokes start

[OldeTimeGeek]

about just using Windows if you want a POS, it means Point of Sale.

be prepared to spend a lot more than 5K

[Anonymous Coward]

The first thing you need to realize is that most "open-source" coders are total prima donnas. They think they're worth tens of thousands of dollars, so you've already spent well above 5K right there. And once you've hired one, you have the problem of getting them to actually work instead of reading slashdot and admiring themselves in the mirror.

Are you sure you're prepared to take on this rather substantial investment?

Oh, by the way, if you're looking to other open-source people to help with the money end of it, don't hold your breath. Because while they command grossly inflated salaries, they are terrible managers of their money. They spend entire paychecks on stuff like jet-skis and strippers (in the vain hope that she will sleep with him, which she never will).

POS?

[hyperstation]

it's easy to start a piece of shit GPL project - take a look at http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ [gnu.org] or http://www.sendmail.org/ [sendmail.org]!

Re:POS?

[Anonymous Coward]

Damn these vi fanboys, getting cockier every passing day!

Creating a POS is easy!

[ScottyBlues]

Creating a POS system is easy. I've worked on many. Most POS's can be created with no planning and require little to no programming skill whatsoever. Or did you mean a Point Of Sale system?

Penny Wise ?

[raftpeople]

I've got the same problem with movies. No way I'm spending $10 for 90 minutes of entertainment. So, if anyone knows some actors, film crew, etc. I am willing to pay salaries, as long as we can keep the entire budget under about 7 dollars.

Re:POS?

[Anonymous Coward]

Even a knucklehead knows that a POS has two operating modes: cash register open, and cash register closed. Vi is a perfect fit for this:

i - insert more scanned items
dd - remove an incorrectly scanned item
:%!discount cardnum
:w - print receipt
:q - transaction finished

Edit mode is very simple, you just add in scanned items. You don't want your clerks to be scanning items while they make change or accept payment... that would be ridiculous! Contrast to emacs POS:

alt - process selected item as a discout card
meta-shift-c - hold down while customer scans credit card
control-meta-s - save current items to payment buffer
control-meta-x - print receipt
control-meta-q - transaction finished
meta-o - open register door (in case it didn't open automatically due to an exception)

... with emacs POS you have to switch around to different buffers, press convoluted combinations of keys, etc. Not even to mention what happens when parts of the bill disappear because the garbage collector determined they were no longer needed to calculate the total. Or what if you get robbed, when you have a gun to your head do you really want your POS to be hassling you that the customer didn't select a payment option instead of just blasting out ":wq!" ??

As you can see vi is a much better choice for POS.

Re:POS?

[nschubach]

I always thought it meant Pineapple Orange Smoothie. :(

Re:Success = sound business model

[aminorex]

It strikes me that any business model that depends on POS software is fundamentally flawed. Kinda like the POS software that made the F-22s turn back at the international date line, or the POS software that trashed the Mars Climate Orbiter on arrival.

Re:Success = Strong Leader + Initial Codebase

[Anonymous Coward]

I wish the guy would quit calling everything a Piece Of Shit! That's no way to drum up support.