[Zope-CMF] A funding initiative to improve the software stack

[Paul Everitt]

Hi, CMF folks.  Munwar and I would like to start public discussion about 
Goldegg, a funding initiative for advancing Zope 3 in the Plone/CMF/Five 
software stack.  In summary, Goldegg provides funding to get Zope 3 into 
the near-term roadmaps of the stack.  Specifically, the funding 
initiative helps get the leaders of these roadmaps working in 
coordination on the next releases.

As background, a few months ago I circulated a "CMF++" proposal, where 
money was pooled to produce 2 CMF releases that leveraged some of Zope 
3.  Munwar Shariff from CIGNEX convinced a Plone customer to spend money 
on an expanded version of this proposal that included Plone's Zope 3 
near-term roadmap.  CIGNEX asked me to be project co-coordinator with 
Munwar.

We have talked quite a bit with many of the stack leaders and we're now 
ready to open up the discussion.  We have some content ready and are 
preparing a small little site for news.  The next few emails will 
discuss the proposed projects for the Goldegg One funding cycle covering 
the next 3 months.

In the coming week we will provide more information about the roadmap 
items we're helping to support.  However, Goldegg isn't a new software 
effort.  Rather, it funds existing efforts.  The first cycle of Goldegg 
funding, in fact, slots most of the money into already-discussed CMF 
activities.  Thus, most of the conversation will happen in the CMF, 
Five, and Plone mailing lists.

We will, though, start talking to other companies that want to pool 
money.  If you make money off of the stack and want to see its 
architecture improve in the next release cycles, Goldegg is the best 
chance you'll get to have an impact.  Including the impact of shorter 
release cycles!

I'm available to chat to anybody that has questions about this.  Munwar 
and I have listened to lots of people and we're trying hard to do things 
the best way possible.  It's a tough job to balance all the interests 
while still giving this customer the right outcome.  Thus, we need to 
ask you for patience on things we mess up.  We might not get it right 
the first time, but we'll listen and keep trying.

I also need to give huge kudos to CIGNEX for making this happen.  They 
produced the customer funding and even matched it with internal funding. 
  Thus, CIGNEX has primed the pump for a near-term Five-ification 
roadmap, and they're doing it by giving money to existing leaders for 
existing ideas.  This is a brilliant and generous step.  It's up to the 
rest of us -- businesses with funding contributions, community with code 
and ideas -- to show whether monetary investment can fill medium-term needs.

--Paul and Munwar