Contributed by johan on 2009-09-09 from the buy-moar-cds dept.

Nick Holland (nick@) has submitted a mail to the misc@ mailinglist to point out that sales of the OpenBSD CD sets have been dropping rapidly this release. This note is a worthwhile read so please go get a cup of your favourite drink and dedicate a minute to reading this - it is important.

List: openbsd-misc Subject: Supporting OpenBSD From: Nick Holland Date: 2009-09-09 3:54:12 What makes OpenBSD unique? Everyone's got their own list, but here's mine: * Good work is unacceptable, great work is expected. * Quality is the #1 goal, it takes a back seat to NOTHING else. * Freedom for the users to use OpenBSD without question and without lawyers having to be involved, again without compromise. * Strong leadership. Not a "core team", or an elected committee that blows in the wind of public opinion, but one person who sets direction and policy for the project. You may not always agree with Theo, but you never wonder where he stands on an issue, or what direction the project will go. * Commitment to doing it right in one way, not twenty different ways ("pick one, maybe you get lucky"). * Refusal to accept the damned "all programs have bugs" chant as an excuse for making crap * No fear of retaining things that work, and trashing things that are broke or inferior to newer (or older!) alternatives. * The "Just Works" philosophy.

Please read on for the rest of Nick's mail:

But...a project like OpenBSD doesn't just run on volunteer effort, it takes real money. Hardware, infrastructure, Internet services, and if you are going to have ONE PERSON in charge, you need to keep them focused on the project, not "in their spare time", and give them the money to live in reasonable comfort. I just had a talk with Theo, and he shared some numbers with me. There's a digit missing from the current CD pre-orders from where we were hoping to be now. There's a trailing zero missing from what we'd really like to have. Long ago, while waiting for customers to hand me money, my first boss told me, "The hardest thing to do, but the most important, is to ask for the sale". I've never been very good at that, but here it is... People, it is time to get your browsers over to http://www.openbsd.org/orders.html and start running some money into the project. Do you use OpenBSD for fun? Contribute. Do you use OpenBSD for work? Contribute. Does OpenBSD allow you to worry about the problem you are trying to solve rather rather than the tools? Contribute. Do you wish your employer used the OpenBSD quality standard in your work? Contribute. Does your employer use OpenBSD? Ask them to contribute (after you do, of course). Do you bundle OpenBSD or subprojects like OpenSSH into your product? Contribute big! (you won't, you rarely do, but hey, I'll ask anyway) Do you find yourself wondering why so few take computer software quality seriously? Contribute! CDs are our favorite way to get contributions. The price is well within what the average person can easily pay for, they are a lot more educational than a month of cable TV (and maybe even more fun). Sure, the CD itself is not something everyone needs anymore, but it is about much more than the data recorded on it. It is the mark of being an active OpenBSD supporter, and it provides a nice, neat count of "this many people care". Don't get me wrong, Theo likes big cash contributions, too, but (ok, my life flashes before my eyes every time I try to put words in Theo's mouth) while a $10000 donation from BIGCORP Inc., is nice, it is probably more satisfying to see two hundred $50 contributions from private people and small businesses who appreciate and put a value not only the work OpenBSD does, but the KIND of work, the "Quality and Freedom Second to NOTHING" philosophy. Don't wait and hope for a big company to speak for you, speak your thanks directly for the work and effort that goes into OpenBSD by buying a CD set. I'm going to answer a question that comes up periodically: "What about T-shirts and mugs and ...?" Well, those are profit points, too, but CDs are dirt cheap to make, they store easily, and one size fits all. T-shirts have a higher manufacturing cost, take up more space, and must be stocked in multiple sizes, all of which must be kept accessible. Certainly, buy a t-shirt, buy a mug, poster, whatever..but buy a CD set, too. Thanks to those that contribute money and buy CDs. Thanks to the OpenBSD team, I can't tell you what an honor it is to work (in my small way) with some of the worlds best programmers and software DESIGNERS. Thanks to Theo de Raadt for the years of showing that it IS possible to hold one's ideals up high and proud, never compromise them, and never give in, in spite of the pressures from those that will trade their ideals for a little temporary "expediency". And thanks to you for reading my rant. Nick.

Undeadly urges you to do what you can to help OpenBSD. Get a CD set, tell your friend to buy a t-shirt or make your company donate to OpenBSD. Be creative!

If you managed to make your company or organization donate a large sum, please write a comment and tell the rest of us how you did it.