Editing Open Source Applications Foundation

{{Infobox non-profit
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| area_served       = Worldwide
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| method            = Promotion, protection, and standardization of Linux by providing unified resources and services needed for open source to successfully compete with closed platforms.
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{{Redirect|OSAF}}
The '''Open Source Applications Foundation (OSAF)''' was a non-profit organization that was established in 2001 with the goal of developing [[Open-source software]] applications and tools.<ref name="idg">{{Cite web |last=Kanaracus |first=Chris |title=OSAF Announces Financing and Personnel Shakeup |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573CC004F945F.html?ref=technology |date=2008-01-10 |access-date=2023-06-22 |work=New York Times |agency=IDG News Service}}</ref> The organization's most notable project was [[Chandler (software)|Chandler]], a [[Personal information management]] software and collaborative productivity suite.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bort |first=Julie |date=2007-10-12 |title=Chandler project: The open-source Outlook killer? |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2349214/chandler-project--the-open-source-outlook-killer-.html |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Network World |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
OSAF was founded in 2001 by software pioneer [[Mitch Kapor]] in an effort to rearrange the dynamics of the software community. In an interview with [[CNET]] a few years after the foundation was established, Kapur described the allure of open-source software: "I think that for people who use software, in the long run, open-source products are going to be less expensive and of higher quality. Also, open-source products put more control into the hands of people and organizations that use the software, which is a good thing."<ref>{{Cite web |title=At the heart of the open-source revolution |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/at-the-heart-of-the-open-source-revolution/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>

Funding for OSAF was primarily provided by Kapor himself, although the foundation did also receive sizable grants from the [[Andrew W. Mellon Foundation]] and the Common Solutions Group to develop the much-anticipated Chandler project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News: News: Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering: Indiana University Bloomington |url=https://luddy.indiana.edu/news/story.html?story=Grants-promoting-unfettered-innovation |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=luddy.indiana.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-12-01 |title=Chandler: A Collaborative Open Source Initiative for Higher Education |url=https://www.cni.org/pbs/cni2003fallpb/chandler-a-collaborative-open-source-initiative-for-higher-education |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=CNI: Coalition for Networked Information |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2008, Kapor ended his involvement with the foundation, stepped down from the board, and provided transitional funding. In the restructure that followed, [[Katie Capps Parlante]] became acting president. There were at one time eleven employees with Sheila Mooney as president.<ref name="idg"/>

== OSAF Mission ==
The OSAF was guided by a list of 7 principles that would make up the organization's mission:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Source Applications Foundation - Welcome |url=http://www.osafoundation.org/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=www.osafoundation.org}}</ref>

# Create and gain wide adoption of open source application software of uncompromising quality.
# Carry forward the vision of [[Vannevar Bush]], [[Doug Engelbart]], and [[Ted Nelson]] of the computer as a medium for communication, collaboration, and coordination.
# Design a new application to manage personal information including notes, mail, tasks, appointments and events, contacts, documents and other personal resources.
# Enable sharing with colleagues, friends and family. In particular, meet the unique and under-served needs of small group collaboration.
# Demonstrate that open source software *can* serve a general audience in the consumer market.
# Offer a choice of platforms and full interoperability amongst [[Microsoft Windows]], [[MacOS]], and [[Linux]] versions.
# Leverage our resources by using an open source model of development.

== Chandler Project ==
[[Chandler (software)|Chandler]] was envisioned as a revolutionary PIM application that aimed to integrate email, calendars, tasks, and notes into a seamless and intuitive interface.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bort |first=Julie |date=2007-10-12 |title=Chandler project: The open-source Outlook killer? |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2349214/chandler-project--the-open-source-outlook-killer-.html |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Network World |language=en}}</ref> The project garnered significant attention and high expectations from the open-source community and software enthusiasts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-12-21 |title=Previewing Chandler, the PIM for the People |url=https://lifehacker.com/previewing-chandler-the-pim-for-the-people-336417 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Lifehacker |language=en}}</ref> The goal was to create a powerful productivity tool that would provide a new – and much cheaper – way of managing personal information and organizing collaborative work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fallows |first=James |date=2006-07-01 |title=The Electric Mind Meld |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/07/the-electric-mind-meld/304976/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref>

The development of Chandler faced numerous challenges, including technical complexities, feature creep, and management issues. The project's ambitious goals and the complexity of implementing them led to delays and a protracted development cycle. Despite the efforts of the OSAF team and the enthusiasm of the community, Chandler failed to deliver a stable and fully-featured product.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chandler: What went wrong |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/chandler-what-went-wrong/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>

The 2007 book [[Dreaming in Code|"''Dreaming in Code: Two Dozen Programmers, Three Years, 4,732 Bugs, and One Quest for Transcendent Software"'']] documented the struggles of OSAF in building an open-source calendar application, [[Chandler (software)|Chandler.]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleishman |first=Glenn |date=2007-03-09 |title=“Dreaming in Code” {{!}} Programmers strive in vain to get ahead of the curve |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/dreaming-in-code-programmers-strive-in-vain-to-get-ahead-of-the-curve/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
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== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130622180753/http://www.osafoundation.org/ Open Source Applications Foundation Site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070830144410/http://chandlerproject.org/ The Chandler Project Website]

[[Category:Free software project foundations based in the United States]]

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