Marketing Pipeline

OSGeo has access to a number of marketing pipelines. This page identifies what these pipelines are, which then enables us to define the packaging requirements needed from each project to effectively make use the pipeline.

Refer to this Pipeline overview for a description of a marketing pipeline and why it is valuable.

Packaging Pipelines

OSGeo Live

The OSGeo Live DVD and Virtual Machine bundles up a stack of the best GeoSpatial Open Source Software on an Ubuntu/Linux DVD. It is handed out at conferences, used as the basis for OSGeo training, and handed out by projects and companies wishing to promote their software to new users. All OSGeo applications (excluding libraries) should be available on the LiveDVD. OSGeo Live requires the following artifacts for each project:

• Install script
• Project Definition (as a paragraph)
• Project Overview (one page HTML overview which includes:
  • Image, probably screen snapshot. (probably 600x800 pixels?)
  • Project logo (what resolution?)
• A quick start guide
  • Contains detailed steps showing a newbie how to set up and run a simple working instance of the software.
  • Ideally, it would be able to be run in under 15 minutes
  • Ideally, it will include screen snapshots
  • It may additionally cotain extra steps to cover all core functionality
• Desktop Icon (48x48 pixels)
• Test Description as per: Live_GIS_Disc_Testing
• Test Results as per: Live_GIS_Disc_Testing

Optional:

• Windows installer

UbuntuGIS / DebianGIS

Ubuntu and Debian are popular, widely deployed, linux distributions with a simple system for users to install new applications. The bundling and testing required for debian packages is non-trivial, but reach is great. Also, packages bundled into debian are automatically rolled into ubuntu, and it is then relatively simple to roll into the liveDVD which is Ubuntu based.

Artifacts required for each project:

• A bundled package

Conference Booth

Since OSGeo inception, OSGeo boothes have been a regular feature at many international and local conferences, manned by local OSGeo volunteers. A standard exhibition pack, outlined at Exhibition_Pack, provides the volunteers with the tools to promote OSGeo packages.

The following artifacts are required from each project:

• Software packaged on the OSGeo Live DVD (as above)
• Project Overview, as a colour PDF, printed on paper which includes:
  • Image, probably screen snapshot. (What resolution?)
  • Project logo (what resolution?)

Presentations / Webinars

OSGeo evangelists regularly provide OSGeo presentations at conferences. Conference attendees regularly give a report back to their workplace outlining what their learned at the conference. Many presentations have been recorded as videos, and there is talk of an OSGeo webinar series. What we are looking for here are base OSGeo presentations which can be easily presented by multiple OSGeo evantualists.

OSGeo-Live Lightening talk

This presentation is to be launched at FOSS4G 2010. It will provide a lightening overview of the (approx 40) packages on the OSGeo Live DVD/Virtual Machine, with one slide/package. Each slide to take 30 to 60 seconds to present. It will also contain a few overview slides (eg: Explaining the relevant OGC standards) Requirements from each project:

• One slide which contains:
  • Image (probably screen snapshot. 600x800 pixels)
  • Bullet points explaining at a high level what the application does, how established the project is, and why you would select it
  • Text in notes providing a 45 sec script for the presenter to read. A reference to the one page project overview, to provide the presenter with background information.

Project Specific Presentation

A 20 min presentation for each specific project.

Technology Comparisons

Comparisons between similar projects ease the technology selection process for new users wishing to determine which technology is right for them. These technology comparison summaries provide tables list available features and key selection criteria against applications.

Requirements from each project:

• Maintain up to date information for the latest stable release of software, in the relevant technology comparison table.
• Ensure that updating this information is part of the project release process.

Comparison projects:

• Desktop Comparison
• Web Browser Comparison
• Web Service Comparison
  • See the WMS Shootout. WFS/WCS comparison is still wishware.
• Database Comparison (hopefully will start to be covered at foss4g 2010)
• Web Processing Service Comparison (still wishware)
• Mobile Application Comparison (still wishware)

Case Studies

Systems architects and project directors reduce project risk by reviewing previous implementations of technologies they are considering. Hence, case studies which describe how Open Source Geospatial has been used in previous project are very valuable. Case Studies from risk adverse organisations (like government) are usually more valuable than those from R&D organisations (like University projects).

Requirements from each project:

• Links to case studies. SeeCase Studies and the OSGeo Journal for ideas.