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# Forgers Guild: Preparation notes !["Hippiah school design" by David Revoy, showing a sketch of a pittoresque forge workshop (in our interpretation).](https://notes.smallcircles.work/uploads/b47dfa35-c15f-4aac-bbcb-ae2bd770d5d2.jpg) <small>_(Image: ["Hippiah school design"](https://www.peppercarrot.com/en/viewer/sketchbook-src__2016-07-13_hippiah-school-design_by-David-Revoy.html) by David Revoy [CC-BY](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/))_</small> ## :fire: Hot take _Opinion by [@humanetech](https://mastodon.social/@humanetech):_ > Fedizens are highly excited about Forge Federation, and often express how this collective effort will liberate the landscape from Walled Garden dominators such as Github. However.. > >**Given [prior experience](https://discuss.coding.social/t/major-challenges-for-the-fediverse/67/2) on Fediverse evolution, combined with the fact that the likes of Github and Gitlab operate on the broadest scope of Software Development and leveraging their ecosystem and network effects to maximum extent, forge federation will NEVER become a serious threat to their proprietary platforms and services if it does not organize strategically and with the same broad scope: FSDL.** > > Hence the vision and mission of a [FSDL Ecosystem Alliance](https://discuss.coding.social/t/fsdl-ecosystem-alliance/125) should be as follows.. > > Mission: **Federate the Free Software Development Lifecycle** > Vision: **Liberate Free Software Development** ## Introduction [Forge federation](https://forgefriends.org/blog/2022/06/30/2022-06-state-forge-federation/) is a new area of the Fediverse that is evolving. Its potential is huge and the vision one of **"Federated Software Development"**. A new technology landscape is emerging that might cover the full breadth of the [Free Software Development Lifecycle](https://discuss.coding.social/c/fsdl/15) (FSDL) and foster an ecosystem of projects and communities that can compete with proprietary platforms such as GitHub. In order to get there the [Major Challenges](https://discuss.coding.social/t/major-challenges-for-the-fediverse/67) that ail the Fediverse must be avoided. And with Forge Federation entering new areas the opportunity exists to do that right from the early start. This notepad serves to prepare for an [Ecosystem Alliance](https://discuss.coding.social/t/fsdl-ecosystem-alliance/125) that can ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the field. We'll explore objectives, opportunities, questions and open issues in preparation of an **Alliance Kick-off Meeting** to be held later this year (2022). ### :couple: "The Forgers Guild" At the [Social Coding Movement](https://coding.social) which is planned to be 'officially' launched in Q4 2022 the idea to "unionize free software" and organize into **Software Guilds** is maturing. When combining [different plans and ideas](https://discuss.coding.social/t/unionize-free-software-found-software-guilds/59/7?u=aschrijver) an ideal name for forge federation ecosystem alliance is: **The Forgers Guild**. Besides an open and friendly terminology of towns, residents, artisans, craftsmanship, apprentices etc. there's a [branding and positioning](https://discuss.coding.social/t/forging-free-software-branding-and-positioning-smartly/132) opportunity to make **"forging software"** a concept proudly applying to the Free Software Community. ### :rainbow: "What do we forge ?" The opportunities that federation bring to forging software can't be understated. Think of all the code forges you know. They are all more or less the same, right? Take Gitea, for instance. People often say somewhat disrespectfully: _"This is just a clone of Github"_. They can't really be blamed though, because it is true. In general **clones of Github cannot rival Github**. Impossible. But federation changes the equation. It brings a **new paradigm** to the mix. Tie your software processes into a huge social graph. A global one. Distributed. People-owned. Socio-technical support for software development. What, I ask you, will be possible then? We don't even have to win from Github or Gitlab. Let them have their Enterprises and Corporations as customers. Let them have inhumane large scale ambitions serving Big Tech molochs with revenues greater than some countries' GDP, locking in tens of millions of developers on centralized platforms. We will **take the (F)OSS back** now, thank you very much, and give these developers an option where they want to be. Let's offer homes irresistable not to live in. Small, comfortable and cozy, perfect for the Commons. In other words if we take the right approach we are unattractive to the kinds of commercialization we so despise. We do things sustainably, or not at all. **Let's go from code forges to forging software**, friends. ### :pencil: Providing feedback Everyone is highly encouraged to add their thoughts and feedback to this notepad, and discuss points in the [Forge Federation general](https://matrix.to/#/#general-forgefed:matrix.batsense.net) matrix chatroom. Also your input is most welcome in [Discuss Social Coding](https://discuss.coding.social) where it concerns the broader FSDL, and in related [Social Coding](https://matrix.to/#/#socialcoding-movement:matrix.org) chatrooms. ## Ecosystem Alliance ### :dart: Objectives What do we expect / desire to be major goals of the alliance? Add your feedback. - **Welcoming and friendly** movement that offers **clear incentives for active participation**. - **Open governance and processes** fitting to our **libre culture and grassroots nature**. - **Living open standards** that are actively maintained, so they will **evolve and mature**. - **Vibrant ecosystem** focused to onboard newcomers and **fosters technology adoption**. ### :question: Candidates If a person or an organization is interested to become a Participant, but aren't sure, then add it below, together with considerations / open questions. No obligations / commitments, pure interest. - [Forg.es](https://forg.es): Future home and dedicated website for The Forgers Guild? - [ForgeFed](https://forgefed.org): Federation protocol for enabling interoperability between version control services. - [Gitea](https://gitea.io): A Git hosting software with WIP ForgeFed support (note: [controversial](https://gitea-open-letter.coding.social/)) - [Bonfire](https://bonfirenetworks.org): Federated toolkit with issue tracking functionality - [Vervis](https://vervis.peers.community): Federated forge, ForgeFed reference implementation ### :rocket: Participants Add yourself below if you want to be part of the alliance. Give description how you see your role in the ecosystem. Note: It is all just brainstorm. <details style="margin-left:1em"><summary> <a href="https://discuss.coding.social">Social Coding Movement</a> (click to expand, for background info)</summary> This movement is a loose affiliation of Communities and Projects and (hopefully) a steadily growing number of Social Coding Practitioners. > [**Social Coding**](https://coding.social) is about the recognition that software development itself is mostly a social process. The movement is dedicated to addressing the many Challenges faced by the free software community and crowdsource a pattern library of Best-practices and Tools to tackle them. In doing so it wants to leverage the Fediverse to maximum extent. - Though the movement has an umbrella organization, for the ecosystem alliance you can consider its position as a vertical with many touchpoints to specific elements of the FSDL. - Social Coding co-shared community provides services to affiliated yet fully independent Communities and Projects, such as [Forum](https://discuss.coding.social) and dedicated website space. - Contact: [@humanetech](https://mastodon.social/@humanetech) (fedi) / [@circlebuilder](https://matrix.to/#/@circlebuilder:matrix.org) (matrix) --- </details> - [Forgefriends](https://forgefriends.org): a forge federation project. Observes the ecosystem to better position itself since its goal is to be useful to developers. *Added by Loïc Dachary, member of the forgefriends community.* - [Gna!](https://gna.org): a free forge ecosystem for free developers that is committed to deploying forge federation software. Provides feedback on the implementation of an experimental business model. *Added by Loïc Dachary and Aravinth Manivannan, members of the Gna! collective.* - [ForgeFlux](https://forgeflux.org): WIP ForgeFed plugins for forges that don't have federation support. *Added by Aravinth Manivannan, member of the ForgeFlux project* - Smallcircles: Sustainability for the small initiative. Helping the guild's prosperity. _Added by Arnold Schrijver, initiator of smallcircles_ ### :pushpin: Ideas / open issues Crazy thoughts on what an ecosystem alliance can do, and things that should be addressed.. add them below (give a handle to matrix/fedi account). - [ ] Social Coding Movement has the concept of 'being under its umbrella'. The Forgers Guild would be an ideal candidate. This participation comes with its own [benefit package](https://pad.public.cat/8yNgnlxmSsGYk3TfIau46A?view) (to be updated, elaborated). - [ ] Research business models (see [the business model for federated online services example of Gna!](https://forum.gna.org/t/hostea-forge-hosting-supported-by-a-collective-of-service-companies/175)) - [ ] Match developers with funding (there is more funding available globally than developers willing to do the work) - [ ] Participating in the alliance still means retaining full independence. Commitments are made just like free software contributions: What you wanna give, you give. No other obligations. - This is in particular relevant to [Codeberg](https://codeberg.org). It would be fabulous if they want to associate their name to this; but they don't want to be bound to anything (that'll only complicate). - [ ] Strategies given objectives to strengthen FOSS's position? .. - Purpose: What is the primary external audience that the Guild (as a whole) prefers to serve? Or is there no preference (is up to independent member entirely)? - Protection: Has the Guild a protective role for its members (e.g. against malign commercial influences). If yet, then what does that entail (e.g. licensing AGPL, etc). - [ ] Forgers Guild collective fundraising - Forgers Guild is a _strategic_ ecosystem alliance. There's a range of projects that have shown interest to be part of the guild. All these projects are thinking of grants to write for various programs. All these projects are aligned and share common goals. - By smartly aligning grant proposals as well, such that they fit together neatly like in a puzzle, they can be submitted to NLnet as part of a larger 'package'. - Being part of the Guild adds extra strength this way, while the project / guild member remains 100% independent and the proposals call stand fully on their own. - Coordinated fundraising can (should?) be part of the set of internal-facing services Forgers Guild offers to members, and part of the range of activities which make it attractive for more other projects to apply for membership of the Guild once it is established. - [ ] _Idea or open issue_ --- ### :calendar: Kick-off Meeting **Objective**: Introducing background and concepts, aligning on ideas. **For who**: Small group. Interested parties only, no broad public event as yet. **People attending** (add yourself to the list): - [Loïc Dachary](https://mastodon.online/@dachary) - [fr33domlover](https://todon.nl/@fr33domlover) - [Aravinth Manivannan](https://gts.batsense.net/@realaravinth) - [Anthony Wang](https://social.exozy.me/@a) - [Arnold Schrijver](https://mastodon.social/@humanetech) - [Christopher Tiller](mailto:Vitae@AmorHumanity.com) - [Gusted](https://mastodon.technology/@Gusted) - [Cloud68](https://fosstodon.org/@Cloud68/108883423002859647) (please, ping us when date is set) - Mayel (Bonfire) (UTC+12) - [algernon](https://trunk.mad-scientist.club/@algernon) (please ping when date is set) - [fnetx](mailto:otto@codeberg.org) (please ping when date is set) - [Ignis](https://matrix.to/#/@ignis:firefox.love) (please ping when date is set, thanks!) **Date**: TBD - Jitsi: https://meet.waag.org/TheForgersGuildKickOff #### Agenda: (draft, preliminary) - Introduction, who's who? - Rationale for an Ecosystem Alliance: The challenge - Forgers Guild: Shared vision, common mission - Strategy: Forge federation --> Open and for the Commons (**!!**) - "What do I want?", objectives for participants, benefits - Requirements for a strong ecosystem - Next steps