Women in Technology

If that is Kevin's (or anyone else's) motivation, then they will get a resounding Amen from me. You've made me really consider the benefit of competition in open source. Aspiring to "be the best" is a noble goal. And competition with the goal of excellence is a noble goal. The thing that I was really discouraging and speaking against was competition for the sake of competition. In my old age (hee hee) I've really gotten sick of a lot of the (needless) division that I see in open source as well as other areas of life.

Here's what I was getting at: I'm sick of the "Foo" language folks looking at the "Bar" language folks and feeling a sense of disdain because of their "otherness". And then feeling the need to compete with them because they are different.

But, you are right. Competition is not bad. Trying to be the best is not bad. Actually, the reverse is true. It's good. Compete because you are better. Or because you think you can become better. In the end, excellence-driven competition will promote positive change for the entire community.

Thanks so much for your post.