[HN Gopher] The DoD Is Prioritizing Open Source Software. OSS Pr...
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       The DoD Is Prioritizing Open Source Software. OSS Projects Can
       Benefit
        
       Author : ritwikgupta
       Score  : 63 points
       Date   : 2022-02-07 16:51 UTC (6 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (ritwikgupta.me)
 (TXT) w3m dump (ritwikgupta.me)
        
       | webmaven wrote:
       | In the section on getting money from the DOD, this is the first
       | step:
       | 
       |  _> If you have a large project that is getting significant
       | usage, incorporate a 501(c)(3) organization which will officially
       | manage the project. Funding for the effort will live in this
       | 501(c)(3)_
       | 
       | Not too long ago, the IRS was clamping down pretty hard on the
       | creation of new 501(c)(3)s, especially ones that were functioning
       | (as they saw it) as the equivalent of businesses:
       | 
       | https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140701/11470827745/irs-r...
       | 
       | This issue doesn't get much coverage today, but as far as I'm
       | aware, this is still the status quo, with 501(c)(3) applications
       | being subjected to additional scrutiny and denied regularly.
        
       | lab wrote:
       | Awesome!
        
       | mikece wrote:
       | If you take money out of the equation, how will you convince the
       | generals to select/help enhance your project when you cannot
       | offer them a half million dollar a year VP job at your software
       | project when they retire? I'm not joking or being cynical, this
       | is how DoD acquisition works: the revolving door from General to
       | VP to civilian DoD manager to Senior VP for a defense contractor
       | to whatever political appointment can be wrangled. I would LOVE
       | to see OSS succeed at the five-sided puzzle palace but unless
       | it's a civilian DoD contractor pushing it (and charging a
       | boatload in the process) I'm just skeptical this will change
       | much.
        
         | csdvrx wrote:
         | I'm sure RedHat, Amazon or Microsoft could, and would.
        
         | walrus01 wrote:
         | the cynical side of me says "that's okay, the generals and such
         | can still get cushy jobs at companies that manufacture
         | _hardware_ used by the DoD "
        
         | ritwikgupta wrote:
         | In my opinion, the waves of change towards OSS are already
         | being stirred by DoD military, civilian, and contractor
         | personnel alike. I think this also aligns with industry
         | adopting an open-source-first, provide services/hosting model
         | as well.
         | 
         | Anecdata, but most DoD program managers (CIV, CTR, or MIL) I
         | know who work on software programs are generally driven by a
         | need to solve the problems that they face. They gladly embrace
         | open source solutions when they're made available easily.
        
       | [deleted]
        
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       (page generated 2022-02-07 23:01 UTC)