1. WeBBT 2011
iText®, an open source PDF library
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

2. What is iText®?
iText is a PDF engine for web and other apps
• Enhance web apps with PDF functionality Google
– Real-time reporting, database publishing,…
• Automated creation of PDF documents Belgacom
– Invoices, bank statements, personalized letters…
Ghent
• Benefit from document interactivity University
– Filling out forms, adding digital signatures,…
Manning
• Split, concatenate, manipulate PDF pages
• PDF for Android, for the Cloud,… HP
• …
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

3. The Theory
HOW TO TELL THE OPEN SOURCE
WINNERS FROM THE LOSERS
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

4. 9-point check list
• Article by Charles Babcock
“How To Tell The Open Source Winners From The Losers”
1. A thriving community
2. Disruptive goals
3. A benevolent dictator
4. Transparency
5. Civility
6. Documentation
7. Employed developers
8. A clear license
9. Commercial support
http://www.informationweek.com/news/197002953
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

5. The practice
THIS WORKED FOR ME,
IT MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

6. No money? No worries!
If you choose to release your product as F/OSS
• Don’t expect to make money rightaway
• You can protect your copyright: Disruptive
– Other companies can’t patent something that is public
– Nobody can deny your ownership Transparency
• You can build an online reputation:
– Your work is distributed all over the whole world Community
– People will mail source code patches
– People will ask questions Documentation
– You may get the chance to write a book
– You’ll be noticed and invited at events
Be a guru
• Your work can be fun: Enjoy yourself
– Having to worry about money often spoils the fun (make sure you have a day job)
– “Pressure to succeed” is counter-productive (play “improve your ranking” as a game)
All of this was true for iText between 2000 and 2006
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

7. No money! No worries?
What spoiled the fun in 2007-2008? Bad luck and... success!
• Who owns the code? IP Review
– I was employed by Ghent University
– iText has many contributors: what are the legal consequences?
– There’s no such thing as “the best F/OSS license” License / CLA
• Is working for free allowed?
– You’re trying to escape taxes, aren’t you? Employ yourself
• The danger of “the author = the product”
– Personal tragedies (e.g. Cancer)
– Dear Lowagie. I have problem. IS URGENT!
– Am I responsible when something goes wrong? No, but...
• It’s no longer fun
– Negative publicity: “Bruno has lost his marbles” Civility?
– Everybody wants a piece of you
– Too much contradictory advice (e.g. about innovation). How to filter?
iText was at a turning point. How did we solve these problems?
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

8. No money? No business!
2009-2010, the years of professionalization!
• Learn more about entrepreneurship
– Seminars and events
– iText iBoot team (alternatives: iStep, iVenture,...)
• Put the IP in a company Ownership
– We moved from lowagie.com to itextpdf.com
– Delegate responsibilities. E.g. I’m not the CEO! Leadership
• Start selling on commission Make money
– Licenses = recurring revenue
– Support = useful feedback (can be labor-intensive) Offer support
• Spend money to earn money
– Hire the right people Pay developers
– Pay for specific advice: legal, fiscal, technical,...
• Expand! E.g. start selling consultancy (but don’t lose focus)
Are we there yet? No, but the fun is back in 2011!
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

9. My personal advice
• Take care of your own babies (plural)
– Don’t worry too much, but be a good parent
– Don’t pay for advice, you know what’s best for your babies!
– Give your babies sufficient time to grow, give yourself time to gain experience
– Spend your energy on documentation, not on justification
• Survive the puberty of a baby (singular)
– Don’t indulge yourself! Do your homework! (IP, license, CLA,...)
– Make mistakes and learn from them
– Spend money, but try not to spend more than you earn
– Don’t try to please everyone, make choices and get your story straight!
• Treat your baby as an adult
– Stay true to your goal, and find people who share your dream
– Make yourself replaceable, not by another person but by a team; be the glue of that team
– Spend the money you make, and you’ll make more money
– Emotionally, the product remains your baby, but prepare to say goodbye
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/

10. My inspiration
At the age of 18, I copied this quote from a book:
If you have built castles in the air,
your work need not be lost;
that is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them.
Walden or, Life in the Woods, Henry David Thoreau
1T3XT BVBA, the iText Company http://itextpdf.com/