I was driving to work the other day, listening to talk radio. They were discussing the Democratic National Convention and how it was “going green”. This intrigued me, and I went to take a look.

At the site, there was a Carbon Calculator, where a traveler to the convention could get an estimate of the Carbon footprint that their trip would have. The next step would be to purchase Carbon credits to offset one's trip. Other tips for “going green” are given on the site.

The thought struck me that we need something similar in the open source world.

I propose Proprietary Source Credits. ( Go Blue! )

Say you are fully supportive of open source, even use some from time to time, but you just dont have the time or ability to actually join a project.

Even developers who love open source, but carry around proprietary OS systems like Windows or Macs that feel that they are more productive in a closed source system, but want to give back to open source somehow.

Think of all the tortured souls carrying Mac Book Pros around conferences, presenters at open source gatherings that feel guilty for using power point to give their presentation. No longer will they need to feel on the outside of the open source Community. They can purchase credits that will go directly to open source projects to further the cause of innovation and sharing in the computing community, and still be able to use their proprietary OS's and software.

I will shortly be announcing my Proprietary Source Calculator for those that are unsure of their proprietary footprint. For those that are using Windows, Mac, (Closed Solaris), HPUX, AIX, etc..

You know who you are and what you are doing, I will be setting up a PayPal account where you can purchase your credits. There will be a bulk rate for OS's, and a guide to add up all those other proprietary software applications that are in your system.

This will be a great thing for the Open Source Community, and even more so, a great thing for all of computing, to lay aside our differences and move forward going Blue with Open Source Software.