So what should OpenSim be?

It's primary objective should be to provide a melting pot for innovation and creation in the field of simulation, be it research-based, product-oriented or just recreational exchange of ideas.

In my view, OpenSim.org should be established as a central place on the Internet for free and open exchange of ideas, technology, solutions and tools for simulation research and development in general.

Open exchange

To encourage exchange of ideas and technology, OpenSim should be based upon completely open contributions. OpenSim should require a licence model that puts no restrictions on the use of contributed material, and at the same time does not allow someone to later obtain restrictions on contributed material, in particular, claiming rights to others' work. A BSD licence model has been suggested.

Diversity

OpenSim should not be confined to end-product visions, nor project planning considerations, organisation or structures. OpenSim should allow any effort to thrive within its community. It should provide a fruitful community in which ideas can be shared, developed and implemented. OpenSim should be based on the principle of evolution and competition amongst ideas --- good ideas survive, bad ideas do not. But the important thing here is that they are all allowed to develop, compete and coexist on their own merit. OpenSim should not restrict to creation by unified design, but allow creation by diverse evolution.

Commercial activity

Some have suggested or implied that OpenSim must be totally separate from commercial interests and activity. Although OpenSim should be a non-profit organisation, I believe OpenSim should encourage all efforts to innovate and produce simulation software, including commercial projects. Making a living within the field of simulation should not be discouraged. What OpenSim should not allow, is exploitation or repression of ideas by commercial interest. But, in principle, honest hard work and enthusiasm should be allowed to pay.

Implementing OpenSim

First and foremost, a broad but concise mission statement should be designed and agreed upon. The mission statement should state the conditions of participation, including the licence model. This should be put up on an accessible web-site --- the domain name is already set up (www.opensim.org). A link to eBattlefield should be added and referred to as a participant. Then the most important function of OpenSim should start: Supporting the simulation community and encourage its prosperity.

Some ideas for content and services:

1. Project support.

Active projects within the OpenSim community should be supported; e.g. advice, start-up support, web-space, forums, organisation, communication/coordination and version control.

2. Tool, technology and code libraries.

Space and mechanisms for easy contribution, search and use of tools, code and algorithms.

3. Substantial reference library.

Collection of references/links to products, research, institutions and organisations in the field of simulation.

4. News and in-depth articles.

Encourage contribution of articles about simulation technology, and provide news about developments within the OpenSim community. (Note: Should not be an industry/product news service! The latter is provided by CombatSim.com, SimHQ.com and others, prospectively including the contributors themselves.)

5. Open and high-quality forums.

Establish a central meeting place on the Internet for easy, open and constructive discussion and exchange of ideas. Topic contributors and moderators should be recruited that can inspire and monitor/ensure the quality of content, so that potentially valuable contributors are not discouraged from participation.

In summary

OpenSim should provide the fertile soil in which diverse simulation projects and technology can develop and thrive. In this regard, OpenSim should strive to add project participants to the open simulation initiative, including eBattlefield and other existing open simulation projects, as well as encourage the participation of research institutions, commercial organisations and resourceful individuals.

I believe even those who are championing the non-profit organisation (aquilla) have already agreed that RTI etc should be open source.

I think your post marks a watershed moment in our short history.

I would like to move that Attila be asked to accept the task of scripting the essential definition of OpenSim, founded upon community discussion (of course).

Will anyone second the motion?

Cheers
Teapot.

------------------
...waiting for the holodeck...

Now, how does Gilman feel about allowing the use of the OpenSim domain name for the project?? As I recall he obtained several similar domain names for the OpenSim project.

Just FYI -
Gilman will be unavailable until mid next week, so any comments directly from him will have to wait until then.

Dom

PS. I've revised the initial post. In particular, I've included my view on commercial activity.

I really like your thoughts on how OpenSim etc should be be defined. That being the case I intend to shout out ... "Hey guys! This is what I really meant!" when someone writes something which I am in total agreement with. I will use my voice as a force multiplier for anything I happen to agree with.

My "motion" was my attempt to express that, and I really do think that we should have some sort of unifying document, even if it gives us a basis to chew the fat on.

I am NOT leader material, nor will I "follow" anyone else. I am naturally suspicious of "leaders". I work best on my own. Of course this could all be an exercise in semantics :).

Habu! Salute, and thanks!

It's nice to know that there're quality simmers in this community! I'm feeling very optimistic about all of this.

Cheers
Teapot.

quote:

---

Dominator11:
During conversations with Gilman, he expressed desire for Opensim to be a support organization for the open source simulation movements.

---

Yes, I read a comment by Gilman Louie a while back to that effect I think. In this thread I wanted to elaborate on my ideas on this. A lot of people here seem to still equate OpenSim with eBattlefield, although eBattlefield is now the sim development project and the OpenSim concept is open for much broader ideas.

People interested in joining and/or discussing the eBattlefield effort should go to www.ebattlefield.org.

quote:

---

Aquila wrote:
Please post ideas and concepts here!

OpenSim is a completely Open Environment, Open Source GPL, Flight Simulation community!

Constructive comments are welcome both positive and negative as we do not restrict your freedom of speech! All discussions and communications will be via this open form (no back channel discussions will take place).

---

I think that's a great premise on which to build!

Those new to the concept of a support organisation for open-source software development should have a look at

The Apache Software Foundation

Hopefully, OpenSim.org can become a similar foundation, although with a more focussed field of interest --- namely simulation.

I'm going to start collating airport/airbase data, freqs, elevation, layout etc. There must be some use for this down the track. Also have ATC call weather reports based on METAR files would also be cool.

I really like Aquila's thoughts on the complete simulation experience, ie allowing non-combat roles, the full experience etc.

AI is also very interesting. Always have been interested by the Unix "Life" game, and impressed how close it parrallels real-life rules albeit on a very simplistic level. The possiblity of seeing and maybe helping in the development of a comprehensive 'intelligence' that is capable of learning while constrained by the rules of its universe is fascinating.

Absolutely Shok!

I will be fully documenting and describing the algorithms and architecture so that anyone can understand and evolve this effort!

The accurate simulation of Flight Dynamics and Control Systems beyond the mere "toys" that have been released in PC games is a huge mathematical challenge.

This effort will expose and provide tutorials for the mathematics required to produce accurate real-time and non realtime simulations.

It will be a component based archtecture which will in combination support the modeling of fixed wing / rotary wing / and VSTOL flight platforms.

In addition, this will be a fully coordinated networked environment for all Aerospace Simulation (Commercial Aircraft / Military Aircraft / Air Traffic Control).

The time has come to draft our goals and principles. Atilla's above proposal is quite elegant! We need to frame these somewhere on the site permenantly.

I have sent an email to Chopstick to request a discussion of next steps in reactivation of the site.

In addition, I have sent mail to gmyers@rmi.net, the operator of this site to request to operate temporarily as it's webmaster so that we could remove the eB merger text at signon and post our goals and activities.