Building the Open Source Community for SugarCRM

[smueller72]

Sorry for a separate posting that just refers to another of my posts but I thought it best to separate the discussion into it's own topic.

Click below to read my thoughts on how we can possibly foster a more traditional Open Source community for the SugarCRM product.

Ideal Features SugarCRM OS I wish to have...

[johnstevens]

Yes I agree Smueller. Look what it brought Mambo by doing so. Oke we can not full compare SugarCRM to Mambo, for Mambo has a bigger market. So I guess that means that there will be less developers too. And this is what I'm missing overhere. I expected more developer action. So maybe we have to shout out more in our own netwotk what a great program SugarCRM is, with a high potention for the near future? This to accomplish a bigger community in let's say 6 months....

[smueller72]

Like I said, I'm intrigued as to why the typical OS community has not been built quicker around such a great product. My guess is it's partly because of the increasing commercial focus of the product(certainly not against that though - who isn't for making money?) I'm encouraged by what appears to be the Sugar Team focusing on fostering the OS community by providing Wiki and Forge sites. I still plan on creating a Sugar community site but not to duplicate what is already planned. If there are any suggestions for what such a site should offer please let me know.

[bogey63]

i also think, there has to be done something on spreading word about sugar.

I'll host a german community site soon, it's of course very nice, having an english community, but it is important, to have local language sites as well. I think, this will push the acceptance for sugar, if you can get native language support and also localized software.

What do you think?

Juergen

PS: Not everybody is able to communicate in English....

[johnstevens]

I agree. Think global act local. I was also thinking of starting a Dutch SugarCRM OS community. Thats why I respond to this topic in the firstplace. But I have my doubts, because of the experiance I have here. Everybody is asking (including me) but not giving anything in return. This can be changed when we organize stuff on a independant communitywebsite. And to begin, I think it will be best in English, and after building that up, we go local.

[smueller72]

Glad to see the quick feedback and the fact that it comes from two separate countries is even more encouraging. I could setup a site with language localization but think it may be better to have separate 'partner' sites with some level of content sharing. To accomplish this however it would be much easier to have the sites built on the same platform. I will be using either Mambo or Postnuke. The final decision on which product I will used will be based upon what others plan to build their sites on and also what everyone/anyone would like to see in such a community site. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[johnstevens]

I think we are pretty on the same level. Build seperate websites (local) and share some things, for in example a forum. When you are familiar with the Mambo community, you know what I mean. And what about the platform, Mambo please!

By the wau Smueller, where are you from ?

[smueller72]

Mambo it is. I have begun working on the site and should have something available within the next few hours. My plan, as you suggested, is to follow something similiar to the 'suite' of sites that the Mambo community has followed - i.e. www.mamboportal,com, www.mambers.com, www.mamble.com and possibly something similar to www.mamboparts.com. If there are others let me know. I am located in the US - Southwest of Cleveland, Ohio to be exact. I will post again when I have something for the group to have a look at. If anyone has any suggestions in the meantime please let me know.

[smueller72]

The main site is up at http://www.sugaraddicts.org. Not too much to it yet but working on it. Check back often and I'm certainly open to suggestions.

[bogey63]

ok for Mambo, no prob. Why not use the same layout on every site?

What do you think?

Juergen

PS: Why limit this to Open Source? Why not also to support the Pro Edition. Some enhancements might also be of interest for the Pro Users as well, aren't they?