Hello,


just found out about this mailing list while browsing for the upcoming
ELCE and RTLWS event details, in the hope to be able to participate.

Let's introduce myself (includes shameless plugs).

I am working as a self-employed Linux systems designer at Sidebranch
(http://www.sidebranch.com/).

(this currently is besides my part-time job as systems architect at an
employer).

I can take on small projects myself, mostly involving customers
stepping into the world of Linux based designs.
Additionally I work with other self-employed software and hardware
peers in bigger projects or own products.

Software systems design. Linux device drivers (from I2C to PCI Express
Scatter Gather DMA subsystems), Linux kernel development, hard
real-time programming (device drivers and POSIX user space), systems
and application software. Mostly in C.

Hardware systems design (FPGA's, ASICs, SOPC, PCI, PCI Express busses,
DDR2/3, SoC, Processors) down to the schematics, where I have to hand
it off to and work with a hardware designer to get the details (via's,
matched pair routing, impedance, ...) right.


I think the most challenging issues for small companies are:
- taking on a project which is bigger than one can handle one-self,
trusting on the help from peers.
- working with peers in a way to builds trust towards potential customers.
- working on one system remotely (I have seen this work with a FPGA
SOPC system).
- ...


I have spoken with Michael Opdenacker on small business cooperation
once (FOSDEM 2008 or 2009?) and we agreed it's hard to get started
with.

One idea: what if we "join" each others company? (No strings attached,
just being interested in taking on potential projects can be enough).

It would be great to have access to each others area's of expertise
and expose this to customers.

I'ld love to hear your opinions on this.

I hope to be able to join and meet face to face again. Who is coming to where?

Regards,
--
Leon

Leon Woestenberg wrote:

just found out about this mailing list while browsing for the upcoming
ELCE and RTLWS event details, in the hope to be able to participate.

Hi Leon, welcome to the list.

This list was set up after discussions between various small business
owners and consultants at ELC this year in San Francisco. A lot of us
are having similar experiences around running our businesses, so we
decided it would be good to organize a bit to get together at conferences
to talk about business issues and to do some networking.

I think the most challenging issues for small companies are:
- taking on a project which is bigger than one can handle one-self,
trusting on the help from peers.
- working with peers in a way to builds trust towards potential customers.

Indeed, neither of these are trivial. I find that when I take on larger
projects I'm forced to exercise project management muscles that I haven't
had to use before. It also takes more effort to keep the client informed
with what is happening in the project.

- working on one system remotely (I have seen this work with a FPGA
SOPC system).

Yup, me too. It took quite a bit of effort to get setup in a way that I'm
happy with, but I've got most of the equipment in my lab controllable
remotely. Its sometime hard to justify the time and expense at the start
of a project, but I think it is well worth it in the long run.

One idea: what if we "join" each others company? (No strings attached,
just being interested in taking on potential projects can be enough).

It would be great to have access to each others area's of expertise
and expose this to customers.

I find that subcontracting works quite well for me. I'll bid a project,
and then pass on parts of it to other folks who I know can do the work.
Most of the time the client isn't concerned with the details of what the
relationship is between me and the other people working on a project as
long as the work gets done to their satisfaction. So even though I've
got two or three subcontractors on a project, the client just sees my
company, Secret Lab.

And the reverse is also true. I'm happy to take on subcontracts from
other people in my network.

I hope to be able to join and meet face to face again. Who is coming to where?

I'll be at LinuxCon/Plumbers in September this year, at Japan Linux
Symposium in October, and at ELC next year.

Cheers,
g.

--
Grant Likely, B.Sc., P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.

Grant Likely wrote:

Leon Woestenberg wrote:

just found out about this mailing list while browsing for the upcoming
ELCE and RTLWS event details, in the hope to be able to participate.

Hi Leon, welcome to the list.
This list was set up after discussions between various small business
owners and consultants at ELC this year in San Francisco. A lot of us
are having similar experiences around running our businesses, so we
decided it would be good to organize a bit to get together at conferences
to talk about business issues and to do some networking.

I think the most challenging issues for small companies are:
- taking on a project which is bigger than one can handle one-self,
trusting on the help from peers.
- working with peers in a way to builds trust towards potential customers.

Indeed, neither of these are trivial. I find that when I take on larger
projects I'm forced to exercise project management muscles that I haven't
had to use before. It also takes more effort to keep the client informed
with what is happening in the project.

- working on one system remotely (I have seen this work with a FPGA
SOPC system).

Yup, me too. It took quite a bit of effort to get setup in a way that I'm
happy with, but I've got most of the equipment in my lab controllable
remotely. Its sometime hard to justify the time and expense at the start
of a project, but I think it is well worth it in the long run.

One idea: what if we "join" each others company? (No strings attached,
just being interested in taking on potential projects can be enough).

It would be great to have access to each others area's of expertise
and expose this to customers.

I find that subcontracting works quite well for me. I'll bid a project,
and then pass on parts of it to other folks who I know can do the work.
Most of the time the client isn't concerned with the details of what the
relationship is between me and the other people working on a project as
long as the work gets done to their satisfaction. So even though I've
got two or three subcontractors on a project, the client just sees my
company, Secret Lab.
And the reverse is also true. I'm happy to take on subcontracts from
other people in my network.

I hope to be able to join and meet face to face again. Who is coming to where?

I'll be at LinuxCon/Plumbers in September this year, at Japan Linux
Symposium in October, and at ELC next year.
Cheers,
g.

Hi Leon,

Welcome too!

Ithamar and myself will at least be present on ELC Europe (Grenoble) in October this year, no plans beyond that yet.

As Michael Opdenacker suggested in a previous message, we might do a pilot BOF/ mini presentation there so to introduce our companies and the peeps behind it and discuss issues like you mention.

Thanks,

Mark