Think Tank Report On the State of Open Source 110
AlexGr writes to recommend an account of a meeting a couple of months back of representatives from more than 100 software companies discussing the state of open source software. The outcome is outlined in a 16-page report, 2007 Open Source Think Tank: The Future of Commercial Open Source (PDF). Among the surprising conclusions: participants noted a growing similarity in methods between open source and proprietary software development. They predicted some kind of convergence, where the best of both approaches gets adopted in each camp.
the operative phrase is "executive summary" (Score:1, Interesting)
It should have been subtitled "The PHB summary".
Timed openings (Score:3, Interesting)
It isn't rare for an Open Source project to be entirely developed behind closed doors before its first appearance on the 'market'. This approach is typical of larger companies, like RH and IBM (which can afford an extensive internal testing roadmap) and doesn't at all imply that the software is closed source in itself.
Once finished such software is released under an open license after which point it is continued to be developed in collaboration with the community; particularly in areas relating to bug-squashing and building interoperability with applications not considered important at the time it went to market.
Is the development of such software then considered 'open' or 'closed'? I think it's hard to generalise.
Not a think thank (Score:3, Interesting)
A think tank is more of a permanent or at least longer term organization, where similar minded people tries to build a rational justification for their already existing viewpoints.
Both are actually quite useful. The seminars / workshops are a fine place to learn from others mistakes, so you can make your own new and exciting mistakes instead of merely repeating the old and boring mistakes made by others.
The think thanks are just about the only thing today that even attempts to raise political discourse above the level of sound bites. I'm very glad they exists, even those think thanks that support the opposing side.
Re:We have a winner (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Some interesting points about Novell/MS (Score:3, Interesting)
Not at a lot of companies. For example, at Ford Motor Co., Linux adoption was initially started by technicians for a small number of things like routers, but through IT management became an official company strategy. Now most servers at Ford are either Linux or AIX or are moving to Linux or AIX.
to save you the bother of reading the whole report (Score:3, Interesting)
What the f**k is Microsoft doing on an Open Source conference. Oh, I forgot, Novell gave them a complimentary pass in exchange for some paper.
[ indemnification FUD ]
'While customers
One of the 'sponsers' of this report having spent years and a whole heap of money on promoting IP and patent FUD now gets to contribute to a report on the indemnification dangers of the GPL, how f*****g ironic.
[ Lack of support FUD ]
'The lack of commercially available support for some open source solutions continues to be a big barrier to adoption'
[ not compatible FUD]
''Another significant barrier to adoption by customers is integration and interoperability'
[ Open source standards not standard FUD ]
''Open source lacks compliance with many standards when compared with proprietary solutions'
[ Open source is only ever used to bargan down proprietary vendors ]
'canny CIOs are using open source's reduced acquisition costs as leverage in negotiations with proprietary vendors'
[ Open Source vendors lack the personal touch FUD ] ( a new one on me ? )
''The CIOs agreed that some level of personal touch by commercial open source vendors is needed'
[ Open Source has no known positive attributes ] ( another new one on me ? )
'The fact that a product is open source is not viewed as positive or negative'
Conclusion: If Open Source has no added value as compared to proprietary code then we might as well stick with the lawyer proofed fully supported touchie feely version
In related news, the Pope said today
Money well 'sponcered' on this 'report' methtinks
http://thinktank.olliancegroup.com/ostt2007report
Re:Wrong (Score:2, Interesting)