07th Aug 2010
Let’s Take It From Here
Let’s Take It From Here
Time for the OpenSim / Viewer Community To Assume Leadership
My premise
We can no longer assume that Linden Labs will provide leadership. We know what needs to be done, and with some Cooperation, we can take it from here.
- There are many separate pieces to the open metaverse.
- There are many competent folks involved with them.
- It is time for them to band together and chart a course forward.
It is time to go forward, and no longer worry about compatibility with the SL Viewer and server. That being said, the key to success is to not go forward in 20 different ways. Cooperation will be the key.
The Linux and Apache Communities are a success. Their example can be followed in the Metaverse.
What do I mean by pieces?
Grids – Inworldz.com, Reaction Grid, and others are OpenSim based grids that are easy to get started with. Think of them as Metaverse ISPs.
Server – OpenSim 0.7 shows promise and technical leadership (HyperGrid, MegaRegions, flexible architecture, archival capabability) Think of OpenSim as the Apache of the Metaverse
Viewers – Emerald, Imprudence, Hippo, and others. Think of viewers as you would think of Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. How does the SL Viewer 2 fit in? Think of it as Internet Explorer.
Why do we need cooperation between OpenSim and the Viewer Folks?
There are certain technologies that would be of great benefit to the Metaverse as a whole. The shining example would be Importing 3D Meshes. The community cant sit around and wait for an implementation to come from Linden Labs. However, it is a major feature that requires a protocol between server (OpenSim) and Client (Emerald, et al). The community needs to agree on protocols, so that multiple clients can take advantage of new features added to the server side.
What role should Grid Operators Play?
They need to make it easy for users to get to compatible viewers. If the community sees great benefit in certain features (such as meshes), and the SL Viewer lags behind, then it will behoove the grid operators to a) educate and b) point users to the resources they need. We need to get out of the mindset of having to maintain compatibility with the SL Viewer.
Does this mean that the SL Viewer may fall by the wayside if it doesnt keep up? Yes. So be it.
Is that pretty much it?
Yes. Stakeholders in their respective domains need to bear one thing in mind:
Dont wait up for Linden Labs to implement what you want. Cooperate amongst yourselves, make it happen, and try to follow the great examples of the Linux and Apache Communities.
To the Viewer and OpenSim contributors, and to the Grid Operators, I would say
this: band together, assume technical and policy leadership, and forge a course together. In unity, you shall thrive.
Great read and you’re bang on…lets hope the Viewer and OpenSim Contributors and Grid Operators do band together.
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The timing is right. Philip is talking about “taking the lead” again, in terms of innovation. The first thing he does is fire Qarl and shut down the mesh project. So, that’s rather a poor start! It seems that we cannot continue to wait for LL any longer for them to find where we are supposed to be going…