CC-collective conditions for use
When you[*] cross paths with CC, you are welcome to use this server under the following collective conditions [to pronounce as a stuttering c-c-c-conditions...].
And please add your use of the server to the [collective calendar], so we can keep an eye on the capacity of the server together.
How can this server be available AND unstable, shared AND sustainable, free to be used AND situated, a production environment AND in transformation? While surfing these contradictions, we commit to run CC following the Wishlist for Trans*feminist Servers (https://www.bakonline.org/prospections/a-wishlist-for-transfeminist-servers/).
What is CC?
CC (creative crowds) is a server for publishing experiments that emerged around Varia and is a place to try out and share custom-made tools and publishing practices. The server is set up to work shoulder-to-shoulder with others who make publications in collective ways using free/libre open-source software, and to participate in a continuum of interconnected practices. It is a way of making space to imagine different kinds of embedded networked design practices and to better understand how different ways of working are shaped by (and shape) different realities.
How do we think of CC?
We think about CC as a pedagogical space in flux. It's a production environment (to produce collective publications), a (re)learning environment (to document, read, write and execute) and an explorative environment (to experiment with publishing workflows). We come from a background in design and we have made many PDFs and printed matter. From a desire to question our toolsets, training and ways of working, we felt that we needed a space to cross many types of (other) knowledges: serving, designing, publishing, tool-making, prototyping, software-studies, theory, and more.
How to use this server?
[*]: CC is based on a network of trust: - You need a password to use octomode. CC is peer-to-peer in the sense that you can share the password with trusted peers. - You need an account to use wiki-to-print or just the wiki. You can reach out to us at cc@vvvvvvaria.org [email address out of use :(, we are figuring this out... for now you could reach out to mail@manettaberends.nl and/or hi@simonbrowne.page for this.] - You can use the pads without account or password.
Once you have access, there is no need to ask for permission when you want to use the tools installed on this server.
But please make sure that you add an entry to the collective calendar, so we can keep an eye on the capacity of the server together.
Institutional use
[*]: We ask institutions to financially contribute to CC when they make use of the server. With this contribution they support the maintenance and further development of these practices. The guideline is to ask €250 per use case, which can be negotiated if needed. Reach out to mail@manettaberends.nl and/or hi@simonbrowne.page to get in touch with us.
What are the limits of this server in terms of material that is produced on it? [*]: We find it important to be explicit about which material can not be produced on this server. It's not easy to commit to this and to understand where limits start and end, but we will commit to it and will try as much as we can. We cannot allow material that promotes or reinforces the oppression of any groups or people based on gender, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, sexual orientation, religion, disability, mental illness, neurodiversity, personal appearance, physical appearance, body size, age, or class. This is in line with the code of conduct that Varia works with: https://varia.zone/en/pages/code-of-conduct.html.
How can I engage with the software running on the server?
All of the tools running on CC are published under open licenses, and we invite you to reuse, transform, republish and change them, following the conditions mentioned in the attached license files in the code repositories linked below. - octomode: https://git.vvvvvvaria.org/varia/octomode - wiki-to-print: https://git.vvvvvvaria.org/varia/wiki-to-print - MediaWiki: https://github.com/wikimedia/mediawiki - Etherpad-lite: https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite
REMINDER TO CURRENT AND FUTURE AUTHORS: The authored work released under the CC4r was never yours to begin with. The CC4r considers authorship to be part of a collective cultural effort and rejects authorship as ownership derived from individual genius. This means to recognize that it is situated in social and historical conditions and that there may be reasons to refrain from release and re-use. -- COLLECTIVE CONDITIONS FOR RE-USE (CC4r) https://constantvzw.org/wefts/cc4r.en.html
We see these tools as boilerplates that are ready for transformation, variability and change. Octomode and wiki-to-print are specific compilations of a set of tools we like (Etherpad, Paged.js, Flask, Mediawiki). These can obviously be re-arranged in other ways! These tools are inspired and based on other practices by themselves. Their continuums are described on the following pages: - octomode: https://cc.practices.tools/wiki/Octomode - wiki-to-print: https://cc.practices.tools/wiki/Wiki-to-print
Commitment
CC is an experiment in itself. We set up the server in November 2022 and can currently commit to keep CC running until the end of December 2024. There are currently no backups being made of the content on the server, which means there may be data loss in case something unforseen or unfortunate happens. This might change in the future, when we find the means to work on backups. But until then: There are now backups on the server, but rebuilding from these takes time and energy, so do not depend on this. So still, hold your breath and CTRL C + CTRL V!
What is the capacity of the server?
The server has 2 cores, 4GB RAM and 80GB storage. Using large image files is needed when working on print, but keep in mind that it will slow the use of CC down and impacts the server as a whole. We need to learn from experience how many people can use CC at the same time and at what intensity. Working on 5 small text-only zines at the same time should not be a problem, but 3 book projects with 300+ pages and heavy image material will probably not be a pleasant thing to do at the same time. But again, we're not sure. Let's use the calendar to see who is using CC.
How to sustain CC financially?
CC is currently paid from its use by institutions. It is running on a VPS that we rent at servus.at, 6 months of hosting costs € 75. All maintenance work is done on voluntary basis, or is covered with paid commissioned work that crosses with the CC server. To sustain CC financially, the idea is to work with special conditions for institutional use of CC, see "Institutional use" above.
Who is maintaining CC?
The CC server lives in networks of networks of independent practitioners, collectives, groups, cultural organisations and institutions around and beyond Rotterdam. CC is currently maintained by Simon Browne & Manetta Berends.