95% of the people I've worked with seem happy to do what it takes to pay the mortgage. But in recent years, I've come to realise that creating software is more than just a job to me.
I care about the value of the software I help to create. I've even settled for a lower income on occasions where I felt I would get the opportunity to do good work. It matters...
And it matters to me that I get to work with people who care as passionately as I do. And I'm lucky enough to know a few. But only a few. There must be thousands more out there who care like I do.
If only we had a way to find each other, I thought to myself. If only there was some way to easily distinguish those who really care from those who are just doing mortgage-driven development.
Sure, there are professional organisations like the Agile Alliance and The Open Group. But they bind their membership to specific ways of doing things. I wanted a way for people to send a clear message about their commitment to software development, without specifying how they should go about helping to create software.
And this isn't just for programmers, either. Managers, testers, analysts, trainers, technical authors, recruiters - they all play a part in creating the end product, and all have an impact on the value and economy of the software they help to create.
This is not an attempt to create a professional body, or to replace any of the existing fine institutions. I am not trying to appoint myself the head of my own cult.
I will happily maintain this site, and soon other volunteers will be able to add signatories and new content. While it's unavoidable that someone must start the ball rolling, and someone must own the domain name and the web space, this is intended to be an open, non-hierarchical and decentralized initiative. This is the constructive anarchy I have long talked about :-)
A logo and other artwork will be created soon for use on t-shirts, caps, badges, web sites and other paraphernalia. It will be released under a Creative Commons license and anyone who wants to use it will be able to, free of charge and without the need to ask my permission - provided they observe the terms of the license. I will not be organising an I Care About Software conference. There will be no chairman or treasurer or review board - or any organisation of any kind.
This is quite literally just about telling the world that you care, and distinguishing yourself from the 95% who patently don't.
Jason Gorman
July 2007