--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is another kind of skill not…" description: "\"“There is another kind of skill not normally associated with software development which I think is as important as design cleverness to bazaar projects..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/eric-s-raymond-5007_good-people_there-is-another-kind-of-skill-not-norma_1732977.jpg" --- # There is another kind of skill not normally associated… ![“There is another kind of skill not normally associated with software development which I think is as important as design cleverness to bazaar projects — and it may be more important. A bazaar project coordinator or leader must have good people and communications skills. This should be obvious. In…” quote by Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/eric-s-raymond-5007_good-people_there-is-another-kind-of-skill-not-norma_1732977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/eric-s-raymond-5007_good-people_there-is-another-kind-of-skill-not-norma_1732977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d5/eric-s-raymond-5007_good-people_there-is-another-kind-of-skill-not-norma_1732977.jpg) > ““There is another kind of skill not normally associated with software development which I think is as important as design cleverness to bazaar projects — and it may be more important. A bazaar project coordinator or leader must have good people and communications skills. This should be obvious. In order to build a development community, you need to attract people, interest them in what you’re doing, and keep them happy about the amount of work they’re doing. Technical sizzle will go a long way towards accomplishing this, but it’s far from the whole story. The personality you project matters, too. It is not a coincidence that Linus is a nice guy who makes people like him and want to help him. It’s not a coincidence that I’m an energetic extrovert who enjoys working a crowd and has some of the delivery and instincts of a stand-up comic. To make the bazaar model work, it helps enormously if you have at least a little skill at charming people.”” [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Successful open‑source projects need people‑skills as much as technical talent; charisma and communication attract and retain contributors. **In simple terms:** People skills are crucial for open‑source success. Key Takeaway Cultivate communication and charisma. Themes open source leadership community building Mood reflective practical Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - project onboarding - community events - conflict resolution - mentor programs Key Concepts Social dynamics psychology collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders improve their people skills? - What incentives keep contributors engaged? A Different Perspective Technical excellence alone won’t sustain a community. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bazaar Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bazaar-model-1447340/) [Bazaar Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bazaar-project-1447338/) [Bazaar Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bazaar-projects-1447339/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Long way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-way/) [Make Bazaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-bazaar-1447341/) [Nice guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-guy/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Project Coordinator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project-coordinator-1447342/) [Software development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software-development/) ## Related quotes > [I did software development for a while, and I also spent several years directing a nonprofit in San Francisco that did computer education for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/i-did-software-development-for-a-while-and-i-also-spent-several-years/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [“We have four blocks here. 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People tend to underestimate the intellectual and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjarne-stroustrup/there-is-no-one-root-of-all-evil-in-software-development-design-is/) [Bjarne Stroustrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjarne-stroustrup/) > [“Software development governance versus software project governance. Interest in project governance predates research in software development governance. There is substantial overlap between software project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/software-development-governance-versus-software-project-governance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After graduation, I took a job with Manufacturers Hanover Trust in software development. I don't think I was there more than a month.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-katzman/after-graduation-i-took-a-job-with-manufacturers-hanover-trust-in/) [John Katzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-katzman/) > [It's harder than you might think to squander millions of dollars, but a flawed software development process is a tool well suited to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cooper/it-s-harder-than-you-might-think-to-squander-millions-of-dollars-but/) [Alan Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cooper/) > [“Software always remain softly for End users! But sometimes hardly to developers!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bananeza-pacifique/software-always-remain-softly-for-end-users-but-sometimes-hardly-to/) [Bananeza Pacifique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bananeza-pacifique/) > [“Easily. It’s pretty common in this kind of job to see significant disparities in ability. It’s not like other kinds of work, where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-austin/easily-it-s-pretty-common-in-this-kind-of-job-to-see-significant/) [Robert D. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-austin/) > [When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/when-i-m-working-on-a-problem-i-never-think-about-beauty-i-think-only/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Nine people can't make a baby in a month.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-brooks/nine-people-can-t-make-a-baby-in-a-month/) [Fred Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-brooks/) > [Einstein repeatedly argued that there must be simplified explanations of nature, because God is not capricious or arbitrary. No such faith comforts the software…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/einstein-repeatedly-argued-that-there-must-be-simplified-explanations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Considering the current sad state of our computer programs, software development is clearly still a black art, and cannot yet be called an engineering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/considering-the-current-sad-state-of-our-computer-programs-software/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Star App Solutions is a world renowned software development and application company. Our head office is located in Richmond, BC, Canada. We develop all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-app-solutions/star-app-solutions-is-a-world-renowned-software-development-and/) [Star App Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-app-solutions/) > [“Folk wisdom in software development teaches that interfaces shouldn't be unduly influenced by implementations. Writing a test first is a concrete way to achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/folk-wisdom-in-software-development-teaches-that-interfaces-shouldn-t/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) ## More by Eric S. Raymond > [The Wesnoth devs are good but not exceptionally so, and we're weighed down by a crappy implementation language (C++). Nevertheless our productivity, in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-wesnoth-devs-are-good-but-not-exceptionally-so-and-we-re-weighed/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“We’re proving not only that we can do better software, but that joy is an asset.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/we-re-proving-not-only-that-we-can-do-better-software-but-that-joy-is/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [The workstation-class machines built by Sun and others opened up new worlds for hackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-workstation-class-machines-built-by-sun-and-others-opened-up-new/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [It is widely grokked that cats have the hacker nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/it-is-widely-grokked-that-cats-have-the-hacker-nature/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“If (as is generally accepted) over 75% of a typical software project’s life-cycle costs will be in maintenance and debugging and extensions, then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/if-as-is-generally-accepted-over-75-of-a-typical-software-project-s/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [The combination of threads, remote-procedure-call interfaces, and heavyweight object-oriented design is especially dangerous... if you are ever invited onto a project that is supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-combination-of-threads-remote-procedure-call-interfaces-and/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [Lisp is worth learning for the profound enlightenment experience you will have when you finally get it; that experience will make you a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/lisp-is-worth-learning-for-the-profound-enlightenment-experience-you/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [You cannot motivate the best people with money. Money is just a way to keep score. The best people in any field are motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/you-cannot-motivate-the-best-people-with-money-money-is-just-a-way-to/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“The Linux world behaves in many respects like a free market or an ecology, a collection of selfish agents attempting to maximize utility which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-linux-world-behaves-in-many-respects-like-a-free-market-or-an/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“The reason this is a serious issue is that both the pool of users and the pool of talent available to be recruited into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-reason-this-is-a-serious-issue-is-that-both-the-pool-of-users-and/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [A security system is only as secure as its secret. Beware of pseudo-secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/a-security-system-is-only-as-secure-as-its-secret-beware-of-pseudo/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [Today I am one of the senior technical cadre that makes the Internet work, and a core Linux and open-source developer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/today-i-am-one-of-the-senior-technical-cadre-that-makes-the-internet/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“The behavior of retailers when a vendor folds is very revealing. It tells us that they know something the vendors don’t. What they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-behavior-of-retailers-when-a-vendor-folds-is-very-revealing-it/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [The easiest programs to use are those which demand the least new learning from the user](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-easiest-programs-to-use-are-those-which-demand-the-least-new/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“This is quite unlikely to happen to Linux,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/this-is-quite-unlikely-to-happen-to-linux/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) [Explore all 104 Eric S. Raymond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) ## More Good people quotes > [“Any discussion of money and success would be lacking if I did not state that money is neither good nor bad. In the hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/any-discussion-of-money-and-success-would-be-lacking-if-i-did-not/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Constantly look for the good in people and in situations. When you find it, tell the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/constantly-look-for-the-good-in-people-and-in-situations-when-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Good people do not let others suffer needlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/good-people-do-not-let-others-suffer-needlessly/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [“...I'd be interested in any tips you have for somebody starting out.” “Uh-huh,” I said, looking out the window. I decided, as we drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/i-d-be-interested-in-any-tips-you-have-for-somebody-starting-out-uh/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [I've had a lot of good people, lot of good mentors, coaches along the way to get me where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-good-people-lot-of-good-mentors-coaches-along-the/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [On the West Coast, things are more relaxed, maybe because people have more fun outdoors. In the East, where the weather is not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/on-the-west-coast-things-are-more-relaxed-maybe-because-people-have/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I want to spend my time with people who don't look to be respected. But such good people won't want to spend their time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-want-to-spend-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-look-to-be-respected/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) [Browse all 2,064 Good people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is another kind of skill not normally associated with software development which I think is as important as design cleverness to bazaar projects — and it may be more important. A bazaar project coordinator or leader must have good people and communications skills. This should be obvious. In order to build a development community, you need to attract people, interest them in what you’re doing, and keep them happy about the amount of work they’re doing. Technical sizzle will go a long way towards accomplishing this, but it’s far from the whole story. 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