itemis: Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Today I signed a long term retainer contract with itemis, a Strategic Developer Member of the Eclipse Foundation that specializes in bringing the benefits of model-based software development to its rapidly growing client base. They're a company driven by technical innovation with an eye to the future. They have a talented and dynamic group of people who are doing amazingly cool things; the kinds of things I wanted to do but couldn't. You've probably already noticed the blogs from folks like Peter, Sven, and Jan so I don't need to detail all the interesting things these guys are doing in the modeling space. Human readable notations are of particular interest to me. I feel just like a moth buzzing among the flowers.


So what will I be doing for itemis? The contract is very simple; I didn't need a lawyer to explain what I was committing to by signing it. You have to like that as a good start hey? I'll be spending most of each week working on whatever I feel is important in terms of continuing to build the momentum behind EMF and the Modeling project. In other words, itemis is primarily funding the work that I do for the community. Of course it's in their best business interests as well---they're not a charitable organization---but in terms of being a good member of the Eclipse community, they are very clearly putting their money where their mouth is. It's a case of self interest, becoming mutual interest, and ultimately common interest. I'm sure some interesting developments will take shape.


I expect to get many more opportunities to travel to conferences and hence to spend a great deal more time with the growing community. For me, that's worth a lot! But don't tell itemis; it's an onerous task. I'm excited again about my own personal future but even more so about the future of modeling. In the end, and I do mean in the very end, a guy would like to think something good has been accomplished in our time here. With enough good people working together just about anything is possible.