It’s time to summarize the results of the last week of cogitation. Four pathways are available; while I must choose one path for each project I pursue, I can choose different paths for different projects.
1. Lone Wolf Artist
This path has me working in complete isolation. I design my stuff to work over the web. I design around my weaknesses; I design each product to work with whatever artwork I myself can create.
Pros:
• My work is available on the Web ‘forever’. No writing in sand.
• I don’t have to explain my thinking to anybody.
Cons:
• My output will be stunted by my own limitations
• I’ll have to learn servlets and JSP
• I’ll have to learn other technology with the passage of time
2. Commercial Lone Wolf
I build my stuff as a Mac standalone Java application. My program itself cannot be published, but I recruit other people to port it to commercially viable forms. They use my source code as the basis for their work. I split receipts 50-50 with the developer.
Pros:
• I might make a little much-needed money
• Other people learn from me
Cons:
• I have to invest money in artwork, etc.
• I have to do some people management
• I have to compromise artistic goals against commercial needs
3. Leader of the Artistic Pack
I run the project as an open source project. Before posting the open source announcement, I write a detailed specification for the design, so as to obviate disputes over design issues. Anybody signing up for the projects knows up front what features are fixed and what features are open to change.
Pros:
• I get the aid of people who can do what I cannot
• I can aim higher
• Other people learn from me
Cons:
• I have to do a lot of people management
• I have to design up front; no feeling my way forward
• Less artistic control
• Somebody will surely add machine guns to Siboot
• Vulnerable to availability of volunteers
4. Leader of the Commercial Pack
This is also a team effort, but it is not open source; the goal is to make products that can be sold.
Pros:
• I might make a little much-needed money
• Other people learn from me
Cons:
• I have to compromise artistic goals against commercial needs
• I have to do a lot of people management
• I have to compromise artistic goals against commercial needs
• Vulnerable to availability of volunteers
Additional Thoughts
As I mentioned above, there’s no reason why I must commit exclusively to a single door. I am currently pursuing Commercial Lone Wolf for the Gossip design; I am strongly inclined to use Lone Wolf Artist to complete the Balance of the Planet design. These are experiments that will inform my decision for Siboot. And, further down the road, I must keep Le Morte D’Arthur in mind.