Why Tech-Writers Should Know About Open Source Technologies

Subject: Why Tech-Writers Should Know About Open Source Technologies
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axion -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 10:02:05 -0700


When I asked a few weeks ago why tech-writers didn't consider open
source solutions more often, several people responded that they didn't
have time to learn tools they didn't need, or words to that effect.

For these respondents, some predictions from Mark Driver of the Gartner
Group at the Gartner Application Development Summit:

- By 2010, 75 percent of mainstream IT shops will have a formal open
source acquisition policy in place.

- By 2008, open source will compete with closed source in every
infrastructure market.

- By 2010, mainstream IT shops will consider open source for 80 percent
of their infrastructure software needs.

- By 2010, mainstream IT shops will consider open source for 25 percent
of their business software needs.

(http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/05/09/14/0653243.shtml?tid=138&tid=18)

In other words, unless you plan to retire in the next five years, open
source tools are likely to be part of your job as a tech-writer.

And remember that these figures are from industry analysts who tend to
be conservative in their estimates and are not pro-open source.

--
Bruce Byfield 604-421-7177
http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield

"When a person has a poor ear for music he will flat and sharp
right along without knowing it. He keeps near the tune, but is
not the tune. When a person has a poor ear for words, the result
is a literary flatting and sharping; you perceive what he is intending
to say, but you also perceive that he does not say it.'
- Mark Twain


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now Shipping -- WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word! Easily create online
Help. And online anything else. Redesigned interface with a new
project-based workflow. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Doc-To-Help 2005 converts RoboHelp files with one click. Author with Word or any HTML editor. Visit our site to see a conversion demo movie and learn more. http://www.componentone.com/TECHWRL/DocToHelp2005

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.



Follow-Ups:

Previous by Author: Re: best approach to learning HTML...
Next by Author: Re: Spinoff: Using Linux for work? was RE: Why Tech-Writers Should Know About Open Source Technologies
Previous by Thread: Re: Going independant, how do you handle your payroll deductions
Next by Thread: Re: Why Tech-Writers Should Know About Open Source Technologies


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads