The Entropic Nature of Open Source
This is the second blog where I will be drawing parallels against software development and artistic process, specifically looking at open source software and it's ever evolving nature.
My aim is to investigate the creative process of software development and modern art and find the similarities between them. Like a piece of art, when most people think of software they think of it as a finished piece. This is not the case with open source software. The definition of open source is something that people can modify and share because its design is publicly accessible. This means that a piece of open source software is never complete, it is open to change and expansion. This encourages a sense of community to all those involved in open source projects. Much like this, not all art is a finished piece, even our most famous public sculptures are subject to change from their surrounding environments. Putting a sculpture in the middle of a city will open it up to many changes. For example metal will rust, birds will defecate on it and people will often use it to discard their chewing gum. Whether these changes are intended by the artist or if they are not a change for the better they are a change nonetheless. However I will be focusing on art that has been created with a mind to it evolving or that has been created as a collaborative piece.
Spiral Jetty - Robert Smithson
Smithson was obsessed with geology, this lead him to create spiral jetty, a 457 metre long spiral of stones and rubble set in a salt lake in Utah. During some times of the year the spiral is submerged, at others it is totally visible and it can be seen from space. Smithson's intention was for us to reflect on the affect we have on the planet. He was fascinated by entropy and wanted this piece to truly be part of it's environment and to change as it does. When originally made in 1960, the spiral appeared rusty red in colour but over the years the salt water has rendered it white.
The nature of this piece is much like the nature of an open source project in that it is never ending. It was created with the knowledge that over time it would evolve As a developer who casts his software out to the world they know that over time it will also change, people will add to it and as technology develops so will the software. Similarly with Spiral Jetty, as the earth's environment changes so will the spiral.
7000 Oaks - Joseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys is one of the most influential artists of our time. His work was deeply philosophical and he lectured extensively about art being the tool with which to start social revolution. 7000 Oaks is his grandest work in scale and in its nature. This epic piece of art which began in 1982 turned into a five year project. He and various volunteers from all works of life planted 7000 trees throughout Kassel, Germany each with a stone marker. This project was so well received that it was carried on beyond 7000 trees and people were still planting in the spirit of this project after his death.
It is the collaborative nature of this project that echoes open source thinking. As with an open source projects, this concept has been constructed by one individual and then contributed to by hundreds. If your CRM strategy needs work or requires inspiration then we would implore you consider open source software project like SuiteCRM. Become forward thinking and join the open source revolution contact me on amelia.campbell@salesagility how SuiteCRM can be tailored with your new or existing customer strategy.