Week Ending: September 21, 2013
“This Week in CyanogenMod” is an ongoing feature that aims to serve as a one-stop shop for weekly updates. Topics discussed are culled from our social media accounts, gerrit, status updates and general thoughts.
Last week we said that the “internet would blow up”. Even knowing it was coming, the reaction has been overwhelming – so much so I forgot to put this up yesterday.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
The phrase is about taking risks for the pursuit of something good. With that in mind, we announced the formation of Cyanogen Inc. this week. The company time, resources, and personnel will work together with our community of contributors to make the CM experience ever better. The announcement of the oncoming installer will play a big role in making that experience better by addressing the biggest barrier to entry. This is only the beginning though – there are many areas for improvement of functionality, usability and design which we hope to address as a team.
Questions questions questions
Shortly after the announcement, Steve, Koush, and I conducted an AMA to field some of the onslaught of questions. The overall reaction was positive, but there was a healthy dose of concern, criticism and fear of the unknown – all of which was to be expected. This is a drastic change in the eyes of some and the next logical step for others watching. We couldn’t answer all of the questions, there are far too many and some for which we honestly don’t know the answers to yet. Those answers will come with the course of events that happen over the next few months.
Impact to the contributors
There will no doubt be growing pains, especially as we work together to define the dynamic between Cyanogen Inc. and the CyanogenMod contributor community. I personally have reached out to individual contributors and our teams to gauge sentiment, concerns and to be there to provide answers to their questions. This too will be a process and will take time, but it is so worth it. Things are very much ‘raw’ at this point in time and given the commitment all members of our project have shown over the years emotions can run high.
I took on the role of Community Manager fully knowing that this will be our greatest challenge and I write this knowing that it will not be easy or simple. From me to you, please bear with me as this process evolves. I can’t promise perfection or that there won’t be missteps along the path. In the end words alone will not be enough – it will be a balance of words and actions that allow us the path forward.
A glimpse of things to come
When is a teaser not a teaser?
Got a suggestion for a topic you’d like to see in the next round-up? Let us know in the comments below. All device/port requests will be ignored.