Changes

Growth is an ambitious goal during a global recession; nonetheless, the goals for Sugar Labs in 2009 are to grow its community, broaden its code base, and most important, increase the number of children using Sugar.

Growth is an ambitious goal during a global recession; nonetheless, the goals for Sugar Labs in 2009 are to grow its community, broaden its code base, and most important, increase the number of children using Sugar.

While the core of the Sugar software development community is tremendously dedicated, tireless and talented, we are always going to be in need of more hands. While we have been growing this community incrementally—your enthusiasm is infectious—step-wise growth will occur when local Sugar Labs start coming on line. The launch of a half-dozen “labs” that engage local high-school and university students in making real contributions to global free software project in not an unreasonable goal for 2009 and it would easily double the size of development community.

While the core of the Sugar software development community is tremendously dedicated, tireless and talented, we are always going to be in need of more hands. While we have been growing this community incrementally—your enthusiasm is infectious—step-wise growth will occur when local Sugar Labs start coming on line. The launch of a half-dozen “labs” that engage local high-school and university students in making real contributions to global free software project is not an unreasonable goal for 2009 and it would easily double the size of development community.

Coupled with growing the software development community is growing the Sugar education community. We are beginning to cultivate a climate where the teachers who have been using Sugar in their classrooms are comfortable engaging in discussions among themselves and in some cases, with the development community. This trend is especially evident on the Sur list and in the blog sphere. Their feedback has been of tremendous value. But most teachers not actually part of a Sugar deployment are hardly aware of Sugar and until they make the transition from awareness to giving it their attention, they will not be engaged. Building a Sugar presence in the forums that teachers habituate is an important goal for 2009.

Coupled with growing the software development community is growing the Sugar education community. We are beginning to cultivate a climate where the teachers who have been using Sugar in their classrooms are comfortable engaging in discussions among themselves and in some cases, with the development community. This trend is especially evident on the Sur list and in the blog sphere. Their feedback has been of tremendous value. But most teachers not actually part of a Sugar deployment are hardly aware of Sugar and until they make the transition from awareness to giving it their attention, they will not be engaged. Building a Sugar presence in the forums that teachers habituate is an important goal for 2009.

'''What are the means of getting there?'''

'''What are the means of getting there?'''

Getting our message out—also known as marketing—is a key to our growth. We've been living under the shadow of One Laptop per Child, which has meant that we have been able to focus on creating great tools arguable without (many) distractions. This has changed and in response, our marketing team has stepped up the clarity and quality of its efforts. (I am particular excited about the possibility of the viral marketing of Sugar.) However, we are being diligent about not over promising—we will stand behind our message.

Getting our message out—also known as marketing—is a key to our growth. We've been living under the shadow of One Laptop per Child, which has meant that we have been able to focus on creating great tools, arguably without (many) distractions. This has changed and in response, our marketing team has stepped up the clarity and quality of its efforts. (I am particular excited about the possibility of the viral marketing of Sugar.) However, we are being diligent about not over promising—we will stand behind our message.

On the technical front, we will be spending the next few months setting the goals for Sucrose-0.86. High on my list are better integration of SWF, Javascript, and non-Sugarized applications in general. I think we can do more to bring the gap between Sugar and other approaches, both so that we can invite more people under out tent and also let Sugar be a part of other efforts. Sugar on a Stick v1.0, will be launched in 2009 as well.

On the technical front, we will be spending the next few months setting the goals for Sucrose-0.86. High on my list are better integration of SWF, Javascript, and non-Sugarized applications in general. I think we can do more to bring the gap between Sugar and other approaches, both so that we can invite more people under our tent and also let Sugar be a part of other efforts. Sugar on a Stick v1.0, will be launched in 2009 as well.

In terms of teacher outreach, we are exploring more formal and informal means of engagement. The proposal to the US National Science Foundation that we submitted last week focuses on a global assessment of Sugar deployments. The survey we are putting together for the teachers in Uruguay this week will be a vehicle for data gathering, but also a means to bring to the attention of teachers the importance of feedback. I expect that this by-product will result in a more in-depth, on-going channel. Local Sugar Labs will help in this regard as well.

In terms of teacher outreach, we are exploring more formal and informal means of engagement. The proposal to the US National Science Foundation that we submitted last week focuses on a global assessment of Sugar deployments. The survey we are putting together for the teachers in Uruguay this week will be a vehicle for data gathering, but also a means to bring to the attention of teachers the importance of feedback. I expect that this by-product will result in a more in-depth, on-going channel. Local Sugar Labs will help in this regard as well.

These are my thoughts about our 2009 goals. I haven't mentioned important topics such as support and documentation. And I am sure that we'll find lots disagreement on the technical front. And as we are always going to be shorthanded, we'll always have to make trade-offs regarding competing goals and means. But by adhering to the principles of free and open debate, we'll continue to be able to leverage the benefits of our differences and our diversity. We will accomplish great things this year.

These are my thoughts about our 2009 goals. I haven't mentioned important topics such as support and documentation. And I am sure that we'll find lots disagreement on the technical front. And as we are always going to be shorthanded, we'll always have to make trade-offs regarding competing goals and means. But by adhering to the principles of free and open debate, we'll continue to be able to leverage the benefits of our differences and our diversity. We will accomplish great things this year.

2. The new "static" website is live. Please visit and enjoy http:www.sugarlabs.org. Many thanks to Christian Schmidt for his great efforts. This new landing site promises to be much more accessible to parents and teachers than the wiki.

2. The new "static" website is live. Please visit and enjoy http://www.sugarlabs.org. Many thanks to Christian Schmidt for his great efforts. This new landing site promises to be much more accessible to parents and teachers than the wiki.

3. Dave Farning was the Sugar Labs representative at the Winter Camp meeting of FLOSS Manuals in Amsterdam last week. The FLOSS Manual effort continues to build momentum around community publishing. Anne Gentle just sent out a call for volunteers to help refresh the Sugar Manual in light of 0.84.  

3. Dave Farning was the Sugar Labs representative at the Winter Camp meeting of FLOSS Manuals in Amsterdam last week. The FLOSS Manual effort continues to build momentum around community publishing. Anne Gentle just sent out a call for volunteers to help refresh the Sugar Manual in light of 0.84.