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Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 20:45:23 +0100
Message-ID: 
 <CAPaJBx7D=8G5GD+JMVP6ohdb1Vbo3+evugFcb5pz-V1V+Gxgcg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: What's our Why?
From: Noah Slater <nslater@apache.org>
To: "dev@couchdb.apache.org" <dev@couchdb.apache.org>
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Benoit,

Been clicking around http://refuge.io/ =97 really like the "why" that you
communicate here. ("Data should be yours!") Was wondering if you have any
pointers to more on this. Like, do you have any other vision / why / long
term goals? Any essays or emails you've written on it?

I am currently synthesising a "CouchDB Vision" document. Moved it to Google
Docs because it's easier to draft things. Once I've got something that
isn't embarrassing to look at, I'll share with the list and solicit
comments.


On 25 July 2013 16:43, david martin <david.martin@lymegreen.co.uk> wrote:

> On 25/07/13 09:52, Benoit Chesneau wrote:
>
>> So even if Noah didn't noticed I finished my previous mail with this
>> kind of philosophy "relax we take care about your data and the way you
>> exchange and render them wherever they are". Of course it was without
>> the lyricism but it is defining the vision I have since the beginning
>> with couchdb modulo the fact that the replication wasn't existing at the
>> beginning. I join Jan for some parts.  One sure thing is that you can't
>> separate the why from the how. Anyway let me share my own experience of
>> CouchDB, it will help somehow to explain why I am *using* Couchdb, and
>> *how* I envision it.
>>
>> The first thing that interested me in couchdb was its simplicity of
>> usage and customization. An HTTP API, a small code base. The HTTP API is
>> more important than some are saying today. Of course we could use a
>> binary protocol it would be faster. But it is just a matter of time.
>> With HTTP 2.0 coming at the end of the year, the already working
>> implementations using SPDY, the HTTP couchdb api will be exchanged in
>> binary stream. Using couchdb over and on the web is really one of its
>> key features.
>>
>> Anyway, when I started to use couchdb (long time ago) I created some
>> applications. One of the first  was Friendpaste. The replication was
>> just starting to exist (or on the point to, I can't remember) and the
>> first reason I used CouchDB for Friendpaste was because it  allowed me
>> to view/maps the documents to my application quite in an intuitive and
>> natural way. I didn't have to query them across multiple tables, simply
>> map them then query them to match some pattern. I didn't have to
>> organize them at first in tables or columns. I just had to store my
>> document and create views (index) on them. The views can be later edited
>> or edited, but the documents, the way I store the data don't change.
>> Which was perfectly fit the way I code, iterating over features ans
>> sometimes completely change the way I'm using/view the data in the code.
>> CouchDB was giving me way to manipulate data I didn't have since a
>> while, since I played with hypercard or lotus notes. A documented
>> oriented database by itself is a concept, a way to handler your data.
>> And couchdb has its own particular way to do it. Even copied like it
>> some databases I won't name it it is different. Incremented views and
>> the way couchdb is storing the data are designed for the new storages we
>> have today (ssds and others). All new databases that are designed today
>> are using such system. Of course it should be improved.
>>
>> When the changes feeds were introduced in couchdb it was
>> revolutionnizing the way couchdb can be used and improved a lot the
>> replication. CouchDB was one of the first modern database to allow
>> anyone to listen on document changes and replicate them in a continuous
>> manner. At that time synchronization was not so trendy and there wasn't
>> many solutions allowing master-master replication. I created many
>> applications based on it since. One of them was the afgwardiary an
>> application to view the data leaked by wikileaks about the afghanistan
>> war  [1], a couchapp entirely hosted in couchdb using geocouch to
>> manipulate the in formations  This experimentation was really
>> interesting in the sense that it allowed people to exchange the leaked
>> data in a P2P fashion using the replication but also to render them.
>> That without installing anything but a patched couchdb with geocouch
>> (later becoming  rcouch). I continued my experimentation with the
>> diplomatic cables.
>>
>> Eventually, frustrated by the time it took to put the code in couchdb,
>> and the lack of real review (lot of devs were busy to do other things)
>> and also the need to have a database that I can easily deploy and
>> customize I forked couchdb to create rcouch [3].  Rcouch is part of a
>> more global project refuge [4].
>>
>> In a sense, rcouch share the vision of Jan. To do rcouch I created a
>> couch core that can be extended by adding new erlang application and in
>> the new revision coming next week load/unload dynamically some plugins.
>> The rcouch core is articulated today in different apps: couch,
>> couch_changes, couch_stats, couch_replicator, couch_httpd, couch_index
>> and couch_mrview (which is based on couch_index). More details on the
>> wiki [5]. With rcouch are coming different extensions: refuge_spatial
>> (forked geocouch to work with latest couch core), random docs, db
>> updates... This core still has the shows and lists included. Not because
>> they are efficient, they aren't but because they are a pretty cool way
>> to manipulate/transform the data coming from the view index or the
>> database before sending them to your application or the user. Back  in
>> the past, shows and lists was called forms and were created as way to
>> transform the data. For me the couchapps are not the shows and list, not
>> even these HTML5 apps that are a very limited view of what is possible.
>> Couchapps are mostly script to render the data  over an index. In my
>> view we should ditch shows and lists to a concept of apps getting a
>> request object when they are exposed to the web or just an environ when
>> they are used as a script to extend the internal API (like redis
>> scripts).
>>
>> In the mean time I continued to maintain and improve  the versions of
>> couchdb for ios and android, ported rcouch to different arm platforms
>> (minicomputer, raspberry, ....) and helped to design some interresting
>> systems using Couchdb to replicate a lot of data between mobiles and
>> servers on different locations but also using couchdb as a message hub.
>>
>> If I would like today define couchdb based on my rcouch experience and
>> the ports I did, I would say: "Apache Couchdb allows you to handle and
>> synchronize your data between different locations and devices in quasi
>> realtime over and on the web in a P2P manner without SPOF".
>>
>> So for me couchdb isn't only a database that replicate, it is also a way
>> to ease the usage of your data, the way you can view them in your
>> applications or directly on the web and over the web.
>>
>> - benoit
>>
>> [1] https://github.com/benoitc/**afgwardiary<https://github.com/benoitc/=
afgwardiary>
>> [2] https://github.com/benoitc/**nymphormation<https://github.com/benoit=
c/nymphormation>
>> [3] https://github.com/refuge/**rcouch/wiki<https://github.com/refuge/rc=
ouch/wiki>
>> [4] http://refuge.io
>> [5] https://github.com/refuge/**rcouch/wiki/refactoring<https://github.c=
om/refuge/rcouch/wiki/refactoring>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 11:36 PM, Jan Lehnardt <jan@apache.org> wrote:
>>
>>  I have a dream=85
>>>
>>> (pardon the plagiarism)
>>>
>>> I want to live in a world where people are empowered to understand
>>> and are capable to decide where their data lives. I want to live in
>>> a world where developers build apps that support that, not because
>>> they went out of their way to implement it, but because it is a
>>> feature of the software platform they are using.
>>>
>>> I want to be able to help people improve their lives in regions of
>>> the world where ubiquitous network access isn=92t =97 and sometimes tha=
t
>>> is just a major western capital=92s subway =97 but more likely is it a
>>> lesser developed location, or a rural area that will never see mobile
>>> broadband, let alone wired broadband because there is no financial
>>> incentive.
>>>
>>> I want to live in a world where technology solves more problems than
>>> it creates. One of those ways is allow people to use software wherever
>>> they are in whatever context they need it in. More often than not,
>>> that means far away from fast network access (Despite what @dhh is
>>> trying to tell you).
>>>
>>> My primary motivation for working on Apache CouchDB is to help build
>>> the world I want to live in. The same motivation drives my motivation
>>> behind Hoodie (http://hood.ie), which builds on top of CouchDB and
>>> wouldn=92t be possible without it.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> In the past year I have interviewed a fair number of people, let=92s
>>> say 50, from those who have heard about CouchDB to users to core devs.
>>>
>>> The ONE feature that makes CouchDB relevant is multi-master replication=
.
>>> There is no exception, this is the ONE thing that makes CouchDB
>>> exceptional. NOBODY else has that, and even the decent proprietary
>>> solutions that are just coming to market suck where we KICK ASS.
>>>
>>> There are many other things that people like about CouchDB: reliability=
,
>>> no schema, HTTP interface, the view system, etc. But NONE of these peop=
le
>>> would care if CouchDB didn=92t have multi-master replication.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> The number one thing that people did NOT like about CouchDB is that it
>>> is confused. CouchDB has a torn identity, half database, half
>>> application server. It wasn=92t clear (and I am part responsible for th=
is)
>>> what CouchDB is and wants to be. In everybody=92s defence, I think, it
>>> just took a while to figure it out. Now is a good time to put our
>>> findings in writing and fix this.
>>>
>>> The number one request from people was to clear up CouchDB=92s story,
>>> to have a clear, bold vision that captures people and that they can
>>> easily understand and share and support and move forward.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> Here is a narrative about what CouchDB has, that has formed in my head
>>> in the past year. I have shared this with some people privately for som=
e
>>> feedback and they all liked it, so it has that going for it. I also tri=
ed
>>> out bringing some of these issues up in presentations I have given, to
>>> again great feedback.
>>>
>>> E.g.:
>>>
>>>    http://www.youtube.com/watch?**v=3D7mdG-iAizVc<http://www.youtube.co=
m/watch?v=3D7mdG-iAizVc>or
>>>    http://www.youtube.com/watch?**v=3Dedbi9jJZkpg<http://www.youtube.co=
m/watch?v=3Dedbi9jJZkpg>
>>>
>>> Before I lay it out, I understand that I will be ruffling some feathers=
.
>>> I think that is both necessary and healthy. I think the picture I am
>>> going to paint will make a lot of people in the CouchDB community happy=
,
>>> some with concessions, but I utterly and strongly believe that this
>>> vision of what CouchDB is has the power to set the course for the next
>>> five years of the project and attract a whole lot of new people both
>>> as users and contributors.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> CouchDB is a database that replicates.
>>>
>>> Think of it as git for your data-layer. Not in a sense where you manage
>>> text files and diff and merge, but in the sense that you have a local
>>> version of your data and one or multiple remote ones and you can
>>> seamlessly move your data between them, back and forth and crossover.
>>>
>>> Imagine a local checkout of your data that you can work on, and then
>>> share it with Lucie across the table, she finds some issues and fixes
>>> up the data, and shares it with Tim across the room. Tim fixes two
>>> more issues and you pull both their changes into your copy. We conclude
>>> the whole thing is golden and we push it to staging, where our continuo=
us
>>> integration runs and decides that the data is good to go into productio=
n,
>>> so it pushes it to production. There the data is picked up from various
>>> clients, some mobile over there, some web over here, a backup system
>>> in the Tokyo office=85
>>>
>>> Or you have hospitals in remote regions in Africa that collect local
>>> health data, like how many malaria infections a region has and they all
>>> share their results over unreliable mobile connections and the data
>>> still makes it eventually maybe with a few hours delay and the malaria
>>> expert in the capital city sees an increased outbreak of some illness
>>> and is able to send out medicine in time to arrive for the patients
>>> to help. Where today the expert takes months to travel between the
>>> hospitals to collect that data manually and find out that there was
>>> a lethal outbreak two months ago and everybody died.
>>>
>>> (Somebody built this, CouchDB does save lives, I get teary every time
>>>   I tell this story (like now). Our work doesn=92t get more noble than
>>>   this.)
>>>
>>> Or imagine millions of mobile users with access to terabytes of
>>> data in the cloud, replicating the bits they need to their phones
>>> and tablets, allowing super-fast low-latency access for a stellar
>>> user experience, while giving access to sheer amounts of data and
>>> allowing full write access on the mobile device to be replicated
>>> back to the cloud when connections exist.
>>>
>>> (Our friends at Cloudant have a couple of those customers.)
>>>
>>>
>>> That is the power of CouchDB.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> Replication is the PRIMARY feature of CouchDB. =93is a database=94 mean=
s
>>> =93stores your data, safely and securely=94, =93that replicates=94 high=
lights
>>> the primary feature.
>>>
>>> There are many more very cool features of CouchDB, even the details
>>> on how we achieve reliability and data safety or how replication
>>> works are mindblowingly cool. The simple HTTP interface, the JSON
>>> store, the app-server features, map reduce views, all very excellent
>>> things that make CouchDB unique, but it is very important to understand
>>> that they are SECONDARY features.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> I want to learn from understanding what the PRIMARY and SECONDARY
>>> features for CouchDB are. I already feel a bit bad about that the
>>> PRIMARY ones are two (=93a database=94 *and* =93that replicates=94), bu=
t I
>>> think that is as little as it gets.
>>>
>>> I want CouchDB=92s new identity to be a database that replicates. I wan=
t
>>> to provide a slide deck for a =93CouchDB in 25 minutes=94 presentation*=
 that
>>> everybody can take and give and customise, but I want that one of the
>>> first things you say =93CouchDB is a database that replicates=94. I wan=
t
>>> that if you ask anyone inside the CouchDB developer community (you!)
>>> about what CouchDB is to answer =93CouchDB is a database that replicate=
s=94
>>> and then follow up explaining what we mean, and *then* add a few more
>>> of the SECONDARY features that you particularly like.
>>>
>>> * https://dl.dropboxusercontent.**com/u/82149/CouchDB-in-25-**
>>> Minutes.pdf<https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/82149/CouchDB-in-25-Min=
utes.pdf>
>>>    Full talk at: http://vimeo.com/62599420 (sorry this one is German,
>>>    still trying to find an English version of this)
>>>
>>> I want that people who barely look at CouchDB comment on an unrelated
>>> Hacker News thread write =93=85CouchDB is a database that replicates, m=
aybe
>>> that is a better fit for your problem=94.
>>>
>>> I want that the CTO of the newly funded startup thinks =93I seem to hav=
e
>>> a replication problem to solve, maybe CouchDB can help.=94
>>>
>>> I want to move CouchDB=92s development forward, and when we ask ourselv=
es
>>> whether to add a feature, we run it by our PRIMARY feature set and ask
>>> =93does it support =91CouchDB is a database that replicates=92=94 and i=
f it does
>>> we go ahead and build it, and if it doesn=92t we may consider it as a
>>> SECONDARY feature, or we discard it altogether.
>>>
>>> (I don=92t actually care what the final slogan will be, and please
>>> bike-shed
>>>   this to no avail, but it should capture what I mean with =93CouchDB i=
s a
>>>   database that replicates=94, a phrase that we can burn into everybody=
=92s
>>>   head that captures CouchDB=92s PRIMARY feature, its PRIMARY value
>>>   proposition, the ONE thing that explains WHY we are excited about
>>>   CouchDB.)
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> Now, you might be miffed that your pet feature didn=92t make the PRIMAR=
Y
>>> list.
>>> Do not worry, I believe I have a solution for that.
>>>
>>> I have brought this up before, but I really do think the holy grail to
>>> all
>>> this is a very well done plugin system that allows us to follow the
>>> =93small
>>> core, massive plugin repository=94 paradigm that other=92s ever so
>>> successfully
>>> pioneered.
>>>
>>> This allows us to focus on what CouchDB is for internal and external
>>> communication, for roadmap discussions and attraction of developer
>>> talent.
>>>
>>> More importantly, it allows us to keep all the fringe things that makes
>>> CouchDB so very appealing to a lot of different people. It also allows =
us
>>> to open up development to people who feel intimidated working on core
>>> CouchDB, but can easily write a little plugin or three (this is basical=
ly
>>> me, I have like 20 branches on GitHub that are useful to maybe 5% of ou=
r
>>> users and they don=92t get used any).
>>>
>>> A wise person once said =93Core is where features go to rot.=94, and if=
 you
>>> look at a number of CouchDB features, you can see that we suffer from
>>> that.
>>>
>>> We need a kick-ass plugin system that allows us to easily create,
>>> publish,
>>> maintain and update little pieces of code that allow our users to make
>>> their CouchDB their own. (I am signing up to build that, but I will nee=
d
>>> your help, there is a shit ton of work to do :)
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> ALERT: OPINION (your opinion may differ and we need to hear it)
>>>
>>> There is a discussion we need to have what the =93small core=94 means f=
or
>>> CouchDB. There is a discrepancy between the absolute minimum to fulfil
>>> the =93CouchDB is a database that replicates=93 mantra and what would b=
e
>>> a useful-out-of-the-box product that our users could set up and be
>>> productive with.
>>>
>>> My minimum set looks roughly like this:
>>>
>>>   - core database management (crud dbs & json/mime-docs, clustering)
>>>   - remote & local replication
>>>   - MR-views & GeoCouch enabled by default (ideally abstracted
>>>     away with nice =93query dsl=94)
>>>   - HTTP interface
>>>   - Fu/Fauxton
>>>   - configuration
>>>   - stats
>>>   - docs
>>>   - plugin system with Erlang (and in the future JavaScript support
>>>     via Node.js)
>>>
>>> This makes for a useful CouchDB default setup.
>>>
>>> Everything else should be a plugin. A piece of code that can be install=
ed
>>> with a quick search and a click of a button in Futon (or a `curl`-call =
on
>>> the HTTP interface). Not far away, definitely not =93siberia=94 (if you=
 get
>>> the PHP reference), but close to the core and encouraged to be used.
>>>
>>> And yes, this explicitly includes things like shows and lists and updat=
e
>>> functions and rewrites and vhosts. We should make it super simple to ad=
d
>>> these, but for a default experience, they are very, very confusing. We
>>> should have a single plugin =93CouchApp Engine=94 which includes Benoit=
=92s
>>> vision of CouchApps done right that is just a click away to install.
>>>
>>> In terms of highlighting the strengths of the core CouchDB =93product=
=94,
>>> this
>>> is what I=92d put on the website:
>>>
>>>    - Apache CouchDB implements the CouchDB vision:
>>>      It is a database that replicates.
>>>
>>>    - Document Database:
>>>      - Data records are standard JSON.
>>>      - Unlimited Binary data storage with attachments.
>>>      - (alternatively arbitrary mime docs with special rules for JSON
>>> docs)
>>>
>>>    - Fault-tolerant:
>>>      - Data is always safe. Tail-append storage ensures no messing with
>>>        already committed data.
>>>      - Errors are isolated, recovery is local and doesn=92t affect othe=
r
>>>        parallel requests.
>>>      - Recovery of fatal errors is immediate. There is no =93fixup phas=
e=94
>>>        after a restart.
>>>      - Software updates and bugfix deployment without downtime.
>>>
>>>    - Highly Concurrent:
>>>      - Erlang makes good use of massively parallel network server
>>>        installations.
>>>      - Garbage collection happens roughly on a per-request basis.
>>>        GC in one request doesn=92t affect other requests.
>>>
>>>    - Cluster / BigCouch / Big Data:
>>>      - Includes a Dynamo-style clustering and cluster-management
>>>        feature that allows to spread data and load over multiple
>>>        physical machines.
>>>      - Scales up to Petabytes of data.
>>>
>>>    - Secondary 2D and 3D indexing
>>>      - Using incremental and asynchronous index updates for
>>>        high-performance queries.
>>>
>>>    - Makes good use of hardware:
>>>      - Tail-append storage allows for serial write access to
>>>        storage media, which is a best-case-scenario for spinning
>>>        disks and SSDs.
>>>
>>>    - Small Core & Flexible Plugin System:
>>>      - Some features are only useful for a small group of people, these
>>>        can be installed with a super simple plugin management system th=
at
>>>        is built into the admin interface.
>>>      - Get new features with a click or tap.
>>>      - Plugins can be written in Erlang (and in JavaScript in the
>>> future).
>>>
>>>    - Cross Platform Support
>>>      - Runs on any POSIX UNIX as well as Windows.
>>>      - Support for some embedded devices like Android and RaspberryPi.
>>>
>>>
>>> I think this would make for a compelling list of technical features.
>>>
>>> (I=92d probably also add a blip about the ASF and the Apache 2.0 Licens=
e
>>>   for good measure)
>>>
>>> ALERT END
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> And then, CouchDB is one more thing. CouchDB isn=92t just the Erlang
>>> implementation of this whole replicating database idea. CouchDB is also
>>> the wire protocol, the specification that makes all the magic work.
>>> Apache CouchDB is the focal point for The Replicating Society*.
>>>
>>> (* cue your Blade Runner jokes)
>>>
>>> Apache CouchDB is THE standard for data freedom and exchange and is
>>> the clearing house, the centre for an ecosystem that includes fantastic
>>> projects like PouchDB and the TouchDBs, MAx Ogden=92s `dat` and whichev=
er
>>> else follow these. Not saying we merge those projects in, they can stan=
d
>>> on their own, but we should embrace everything that makes the
>>> interoperable replication world a reality.
>>>
>>> http://couchdb.apache.org is going to be the centre of the data
>>> replication universe.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> Now all of this is my vision and I bringing it to this table now.
>>> I have to admit that I am very nervous about this. A lot of things
>>> aren=92t very well thought out and at the same time, I care very
>>> deeply about this project and it=92s community and their future, so
>>> there is a little anxiety doing this little emotional striptease
>>> in front of all of you.
>>>
>>> What we will end up with, is not what I dream up and that=92s that,
>>> but I hope I can inform and set the direction of where we are going,
>>> and then we can all together figure out the hard parts, and question
>>> my assumptions and change little thing or lots.
>>>
>>> I don=92t want to make this mine, but ours. To keep and to be proud of.
>>>
>>> The last thing I want is to stifle diversity, in thought and code,
>>> and I am very sure that some of you will find a lot to disagree with
>>> what I am saying, and that=92s great, because this should, again, be
>>> ours, not mine.
>>>
>>> But the one thing I am convinced of is the little pivot that this
>>> project hinges on* between relative obscurity and blasting success
>>> is that we need to find our version of a simplified, streamlined
>>> and aligned way of defining, building and communicating what Apache
>>> CouchDB is.
>>>
>>> (* I suck at metaphors)
>>>
>>> And yes that means that some thing that *YOU* think are important
>>> are getting a second row seat instead of the front row. Heck even
>>> some of my pet features get a second row seat, but that is fine
>>> because they aren=92t gone, there is still room for all the crazy
>>> and not-so-crazy-but-not-essential stuff that people love in the
>>> plugin system, one click away. All this so we can benefit from
>>> being able to focus on building a modern, compelling, fun, humble
>>> and clever database that we can build the future, our future, on.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>> I want to live in a world where people are empowered to understand
>>> and are capable to decide where their data lives.
>>>
>>>
>>> I want to live in a world where technology solves more problems than
>>> it creates.
>>>
>>>
>>> My primary motivation for working on Apache CouchDB is to help build
>>> the world I want to live in.
>>>
>>>
>>> The ONE feature that makes CouchDB relevant is multi-master replication=
.
>>>
>>>
>>> I want to learn from understanding what the PRIMARY and SECONDARY
>>> features for CouchDB are.
>>>
>>>
>>> Apache CouchDB is the focal point for The Replicating Society.
>>>
>>>
>>> I don=92t want to make this mine, but ours. To keep and to be proud of.
>>>
>>>
>>> * * *
>>>
>>>
>>> CouchDB is a database that replicates.
>>>
>>> I=92m excited about your feedback! <3
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Jan
>>> --
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks to Noah for kicking off this way overdue discussion.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jul 24, 2013, at 15:28 , Noah Slater <nslater@apache.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>  Okay, here are some rough thoughts.
>>>>
>>>> Why?
>>>>
>>>> - We believe that distributed data should be easy
>>>>
>>>> How?
>>>>
>>>> - Painless multi-master replication
>>>> - Effortless clustering and sharding
>>>> - Co-location of data, queries, and views
>>>> - Deep browser and platform integration
>>>> - Built of the Web
>>>>
>>>> What?
>>>>
>>>> - Erlang
>>>> - HTTP
>>>> - JSON
>>>> - JavaScript
>>>> - MapReduce
>>>>
>>>> (That last list could go on, and on, and on...)
>>>>
>>>> Anyway. This is just a rough sketch of the sort of hierarchy I am
>>>>
>>> thinking
>>>
>>>> about.
>>>>
>>>> Whatever this ends up looking like, I think this is how we should talk
>>>> about CouchDB. This structure could be a template for anything. A talk=
,
>>>> a
>>>> sales pitch, the homepage itself. The important thing is that we start
>>>>
>>> from
>>>
>>>> "why?" and we build up from foundations.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 24 July 2013 13:15, Noah Slater <nslater@apache.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  I'm trying to imagine what our "I have a dream" speech would be like
>>>>> for
>>>>> CouchDB. If we were the Wright brothers, we might stand up and say "I
>>>>>
>>>> have
>>>
>>>> a dream that one day man will fly." We might say, "I have a dream that
>>>>> distributed data will be easy." (I mean, that about covers it, right?
>>>>> Doesn't have to be complex. The hard part is making sure we actually
>>>>>
>>>> focus
>>>
>>>> in on the root dream we all have.)
>>>>>
>>>>> Jan mentioned a few months ago that CouchDB almost wants to be the Gi=
t,
>>>>> for databases. What is Git? What would Git's "dream" be? I can imagin=
e
>>>>> Linus saying "I have a dream that distributed version control will be
>>>>> easy." Same sorta thing, right?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 24 July 2013 13:06, Noah Slater <nslater@apache.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  Benoit,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You should defo watch that video and see what you think. Note that i=
t
>>>>>> does not matter if we are a company. This insight applies to
>>>>>> companies,
>>>>>> products, loose groups of people working towards one thing (like the
>>>>>>
>>>>> Wright
>>>
>>>> brothers) and even individuals. (i.e. What is your personal "why" and
>>>>>>
>>>>> how
>>>
>>>> are the things you are doing working towards that.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I also want to put you at ease by saying that having a single shared
>>>>>> "why" doesn't mean that anybody's vision, or personal goals have to =
be
>>>>>>
>>>>> left
>>>
>>>> by the wayside. People can still come to the project with their own
>>>>>>
>>>>> goals,
>>>
>>>> and their own perspective. But the project itself should have a clear
>>>>>>
>>>>> sense
>>>
>>>> of what we are trying to accomplish.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think the "why" we come up with can easily be something that
>>>>>> inspires
>>>>>> and is important to the Hoodie peeps, the Kanso peeps, the CouchApp
>>>>>>
>>>>> peeps,
>>>
>>>> the "big data" peeps, the mobile platform peeps. Think about a why tha=
t
>>>>>> might evolve out of "your data, everywhere". Who (in our existing
>>>>>> communities) wouldn't love that and want to rally behind that? (But
>>>>>>
>>>>> this is
>>>
>>>> just one idea.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Asking "what are the core features" misses the point. Why are these
>>>>>>
>>>>> core
>>>
>>>> features? Why did we add them in the first place? What are we working
>>>>>> towards? See, you hit on it in your final sentence: "relax we take
>>>>>> care
>>>>>> about your data and the way you exchange and render them wherever th=
ey
>>>>>> are". This! This is the kind of thing that I think we should hone, a=
nd
>>>>>> figure out, and document.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Once we have that, it can inform our "how". When we're talking about
>>>>>> features, about product direction (i.e. what we add, what we subtrac=
t)
>>>>>>
>>>>> we
>>>
>>>> can say "well, how is this related to what we're trying to do here?"
>>>>>>
>>>>> Do you
>>>
>>>> see what I mean? :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Painless distributed systems" is also a step in the right direction
>>>>>>
>>>>> for
>>>
>>>> answering the question "why?"
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So far we have:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     * Relax
>>>>>>     * Decentralised web
>>>>>>     * Peer-to-peer replication of apps and datasets
>>>>>>     * Your data, everywhere
>>>>>>     * Put the data where you need it
>>>>>>     * We handle your data / you handle display
>>>>>>     * Painless distributed systems
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Somewhere in here ^ (and perhaps in a follow up reply) is a single
>>>>>>
>>>>> shared
>>>
>>>> value system. Something we all hold dear.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 24 July 2013 12:48, Benoit Chesneau <bchesneau@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  Anyway, CouchDB is not like apple or dell. This isn't a company. An=
d
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> we
>>>
>>>> don't have to share all the same vision, but only common values, a
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> core.
>>>
>>>> I'm not sure it enter in the what you describe. What kind of vision
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> are
>>>
>>>> you
>>>>>>> speaking about?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Also I would remove any pro-tip from your mail if we want to start
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> from a
>>>
>>>> neutral base.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Couchdb is known for the replication but not only. Couchapps and th=
e
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> way
>>>
>>>> people hack around is another (hoodie, kanso, erica/ couchapp all
>>>>>>> differents visions of what is a couchapp but all are using couchdb
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> same_.. Message hub is another (nodejistsu, hoodie are using couchd=
b
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> as a
>>>
>>>> message hub somehow, not only but a lot of their arch is based on
>>>>>>> changes).
>>>>>>> And now we we can add some kind of big data handling. Not forgettin=
g
>>>>>>> people
>>>>>>> that are using apache couchdb on their mobile, they exists and the
>>>>>>> patches
>>>>>>> will be release.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> All have different visions. But they share some common features. I
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> don't
>>>
>>>> want to forget someone because of a vision of some. I only know that
>>>>>>> couchdb has some strong features that could be improved.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> All that to say that rather than thinking to a vision, maybe we cou=
ld
>>>>>>> collect all the usages around and see what emerges from it. What ar=
e
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> the
>>>
>>>> core features, What couchdb should focus on and itterrate depending on
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> new usage. I guess it's some kind of philosophy: "relax we take car=
e
>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>> your data and the way you exchange and render them wherever they
>>>>>>> are".
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> - benoit
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 1:24 PM, Noah Slater <nslater@apache.org>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi devs,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I came across this video recently:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>  http://www.ted.com/talks/**simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_**
>>> inspire_action.html<http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_lead=
ers_inspire_action.html>
>>>
>>>> In it he sets out what he calls the Golden Circle:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Why
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>     - What's your purpose?
>>>>>>>>     - What's your cause?
>>>>>>>>     - What's your belief?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> How
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>     - How do we do it?
>>>>>>>>     - How does our product differentiate?
>>>>>>>>     - How are we different?
>>>>>>>>     - How are we better?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>     - What do we do?
>>>>>>>>     - What do we make?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> He points out that the difference between companies like Apple and
>>>>>>>> companies like Dell.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dell tells you what they do, and how. "We make great computers.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> They're
>>>
>>>> well designed and work well. Wanna buy a computer?" Most companies do
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> like this. But they often miss out the "why".
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> But then you look at Apple, and they do it the other way around.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Apple
>>>
>>>> tell
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> you what their purpose is. The rest is almost an afterthought. "We
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> believe
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking different. W=
e
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> do
>>>
>>>> that
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> with great design and a focus on the user experience. We just happ=
en
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> to
>>>
>>>> make computers." He then joking quips: "Ready to buy one yet?"
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> (His talk gives several other examples, with his thesis being that
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> telling
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> your story from the outside in is what separates all the great
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> companies
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> and leaders. One of his main examples is the Wright brothers.)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> He comments that if you talk about what you believe, you will
>>>>>>>> attract
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> those
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> that believe what you believe. That when you talk about what you
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> believe,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> people will join you for their own reasons, for their own purpose.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> And
>>>
>>>> that
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> what you do simply serves as proof of what you believe. Or as he
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> quips:
>>>
>>>> "Martin Luther King gave his 'I have a dream' speech, not his 'i
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> have a
>>>
>>>> plan' speech."
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Why am I bringing this to the dev list?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Because our message stinks. "Apache CouchDB=99 is a database that =
uses
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> JSON
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> for documents, JavaScript for MapReduce queries, and regular HTTP
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> an
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> API" is a terrible way to introduce who we are, what we stand for,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> and
>>>
>>>> why
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> we build this thing. (And I'm allowed to say all that, because I'm
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> the
>>>
>>>> one
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> who wrote it, with lots of help from Jan.)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So what am I proposing? I'm proposing that we figure out our why.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That
>>>
>>>> we
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> figure out what we stand for, what we believe in. And then we figu=
re
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> out
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> how we're gonna do that (pro tip: replication is more important th=
an
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> data format we use). Not only will this define a consistent intern=
al
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> vision
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> for the project (what *are* we working towards anyway?) but it wil=
l
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> help us
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> to attract people who believe in what we believe.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So, if you have any thoughts about this, speak up!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> NS
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> NS
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> NS
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> NS
>>>>
>>>
>>>
> The needs and benefits and USP of Couchdb/rcouch/Bigcouch/**spatial
> hybrid are different
> and also the motivations for inclusion or exclusion and extension of any
> need or want is
> different for SaaS and distributed or mobile application.
>
> This makes it difficult to answer the superficially easy "why" question.
>
> It is only the possibilities of the "how" and "what" questions that will
> answer the "why" in devastating unanswerable logic.
>
> Refuge.io and Rcouch have the best "how", why?
>
> --
> David Martin
>
>


--=20
Noah Slater
https://twitter.com/nslater

--089e010d8a02c2680204e3246e50--