peat dot org

I’ve been talking with a bunch of people about releasing the next version of UpSale as an open source project, and I want your opinion on the matter.

We’ve managed to find a niche that doesn’t seem well served by existing open source projects — light weight ERP tools for small businesses that make and sell their own products. Our customers deal with the same sorts of supply chain, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and customer relationship issues that big companies face, but on a different scale, with different priorities, and restricted financial and technical capabilities.

I have a burning desire to see small upstarts upset the status quo, especially when it comes to local businesses with an eye for sustainable products. Stepping up and embracing open source makes a lot of sense for how we run our business, how we want to serve our customers, and empowers independent developers and the small business community as a whole.

All that said, there’s a lot that goes into sponsoring and building a successful open source project, and we don’t want to jump in unprepared. I’m poking my friends and colleagues to see what sorts of things make open source projects attractive and successful, and I’d love to hear from the folks who read my blog as well.

Your thoughts?

With RailsConf in town this week, it’s a good time to mention that Blue Hill Solutions is looking for a Sr. Web Developer.

Specifically, we’re looking for an organized Rails guru who enjoys coaching others, and can step up to a leadership role in our development group.   We want a well rounded individual with at least ten years of software development behind them — bonus points for experience with e-commerce, scalable architecture, interface design, testing, and application deployment.

This is a salaried position, with aggressive bonuses, perks, and full health + dental coverage.  Our office is located in a trendy neighborhood in north Portland, with easy access to downtown, great accessibility via public transit, and within walking distance of a variety of good restaurants and coffee shops.  Although we don’t pay for relocation costs, we’re more than happy to talk with developers from other parts of the country!

Blue Hill Solutions is a start-up with a variety of web-based products, including intranet communication tools and  an evolving e-commerce platform.

Sound appealing?  Send an e-mail to hiring@bluehillsolutions.com with your resume and a description about why you think you might be a good fit.