To my mind, this is a highly suitable way for open-source tools and the training to use them to be promoted/marketed. I've been to proprietary "seminars" where the best part was the free cookies -- except losing the extra sugar-weight was not fun. Open source SHOULD be about providing value in all we do, even our promotional activities. And open source is "marketed" by people getting to know each other and their capabilities. This is a sensible way to do that. My view of open source is that it is the economic philosophy leading to everyone getting a bit more prosperous steadily, rather that a few getting rich quickly. Rob's msg suggests to me that I could offer 1-2 hour sessions on some aspect of R (data analysis / graphics / computation). I'm sure other folk would have like offerings. Perhaps we should think of a space for "cards" telling what we're prepared to offer on the OCLUG site. JN On 14-08-13 11:49 AM, Robert P. J. Day wrote: > > [Warning: Some marketing ahead, but the "free" part still holds.] > > Hi, folks, Rob Day here. As many of you probably know, I make a > living teaching technical Linux courses -- intro, admin, kernel > programming, embedded Linux, device drivers and, my latest obsession, > building embedded systems with OpenEmbedded/Yocto Project. > > During the inevitably slow training time that happens late every > summer, I've been writing/updating material and, for the sake of > marketing my training locally, I thought I would simply offer free 1-2 > hour technical tutorials to any local company who's interested. > > Now, by "tutorial", I don't mean purely marketing fluff. I mean > actual, introductory technical instruction on any of the above (or > related) topics that I can squeeze into a couple hours so that > attendees could leave thinking, "Hey, I actually learned some neat > stuff!" > > Possibilities that come to mind might be tutorials like: > > * Getting started with kernel programming > * Writing and loading your first kernel module > * Building your first image with Yocto Project > > You get the idea. There's no catch. Of *course*, the whole point of > this is to meet potential future clients who might want an entire > multi-day course, but the tutorials would be entirely free of charge > -- just my way of getting to meet new people. > > If you're interested, get ahold of me, or pass this on to anyone > else at a local (Ottawa-area) company you think might be interested. > > Thoughts? > > rday >