Mambo News

Meet MamboSwiss

Each article we will interview a different member of Team Mambo. In this installment of Meet Mambo, we're talking to Alain Schmalz, better known to most as "mamboswiss." He's not only a member of Team Mambo, but also the Board of Directors of the Mambo Foundation.

A Brief Introduction

Name: Alain Schmalz

Handle on Forums: mamboswiss

Age: 56

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Profession: Master of Laws, Swiss Certified Tax Consultant, and non certified Geek

The Interview

In what ways do you make a contribution to Mambo?

• I serve both as a Member of the Board of Directors (Secretary) of MF and as 3rd party development team leader within the MSC.

When did you first hear of Mambo?

• Since about four years I am working with Mambo in building sites on a generally free basis as a hobby.

How and when did you get involved in the Mambo Project?

• In the second past of 2005, during a hard period for Mambo.

Are you being paid to work on Mambo?

• A lot, each week -- no actually I am just a volunteer attracted by the force of open source projects.

How much time do you usually spend on Mambo?

• Difficult to say without time-sheet, but at least one full day a week.

Do you have any specific goals for Mambo?

• Definitely users oriented, more stability and more prepared to receive plugin 3rd party extensions.

What keeps you motivated to work on Mambo?

• Open Source Software development is for me a contribution for a better world, something probably not far from a political engagement.

What is Mambo's killer app? Why? -

• Its ability to fit in almost all type of sites, and its easy to use aspect for a non technical user.

What is your favourite add-on? -

• Suckerfish menus and remository.

In addition to Mambo, what other Open Source applications do you use regularly?

• I use regularly Linux, Apache, PHP, MySQL, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Sugar CRM is a very good complement.

What Operating system do you use & why? 

• Win XP, and for private use Mac

What’s your Mambo site look like?

• none at the moment, no time to build it !!!

Which section of Mambo is underrated and should get more publicity?

• The new MOStlyCE editor.

What do you think is still badly missing in Mambo?

• Deep ACL urgently needed.

Are there particular opportunities for Mambo in your country?

• Switzerland is a rich and open country, many CMS exist and there is not (I regret) a huge Mambo community here. Work to be done for me, on my to-do list.

Personal Questions

Married, partner or still looking?

•  Married to Suzanne.

If you have a partner or children, how do they cope with your Mambo mania?

• So long as I do not spend more than …… well she accepts it but often would like me to be a little more free.

Do you have any pets?

•  Yes, a 6 year old British Blue European Champion, named Calvin (obvious for a cat living in the Geneva City also called the city of Calvin).

How would you describe yourself?

• Old grey hair original.

What are you passionate about?

• Music, arts in general namely paintings and photography and cooking.

If someone visits your country, which spot is a "must-see"?

• All the country is a post card, but don’t forget the Leman lake (also called the Geneva lake, the biggest lake in Europe).

Which book is on your bedside table?

• "La route du cotton," an essay in French on the mondialisation problems.

What’s the worst job you ever had?

• Pushing caddies at a garment fabric (during my study times).

What’s your dream job?

• Seller of ideas working on an island with an internet connection and cocoa trees.

What is your favourite place in the world?

• Australia, in particular North Queensland and Perth region.

Who or what in your life would you say influenced you most?

• Who: Nelson Mandela, what: all people fighting aganst any kind of social inegalities.

What's your favourite web site at the moment?

• Netvibes, the RSS agregator.

Your Name / Email Address


Your Message

Security Check. Please enter this code Listen to code