The Crusher OS (editorial)

Ok, I'm warning everyone right up front that this is the sort of editorial that might raise a lot of eyebrows, and might start tempers going. Kevin Forge has written a piece on the Crusher App- an application that is superior to its rivals. Specifically, he talks about the Crusher App, and why Oracle is staying away from Linux. What Kevin suggests strikes me as quite possible, not necessarily with Oracle, but with other companies as well, and that's why I'm posting it. Its a major obstacle for Open Source to overcome. Read Kevin's bit, and let's hear what you have to say.

The following is an editorial by Slashdot Reader Kevin Forge

The crusher app.

when you have a user who is also a programer your product becomes more powerful and more stable on an exponential basis since increased stability and power equate to increased support and Increased support means more power and stability. This is why the Credits file in Linux 2.1.99 lists 242 names while 2.0.33 lists 200 ( I counted N:'s and may well be wrong since it's the 1st time I am using grep ). This is also true of Apache, EMacs and all the other Open Source stars.

This brings me to the mater of Oracle. Why dose Oracle claim "lack of demand", "wasted expenditure" and other such things nobody really believes when asked about a Linux port ? ( Most of the programers on this list agree that porting Oracle to Linux would be a trivial undertaking ). Bare with me a little while I approach the matter from Oracle's perspective.

Oracle knows a few things the rest of us haven't considered or have chosen to ignore. They understand the dynamics of the software market and the GNU culture as well as anybody else.

So why doesn't Oracle just release the source code for it's SQL server and charge for support and service in the GNU model ? Simple they already make millions selling support. They make money off the Oracle database in all the ways it's possible to make money off software.

Selling the product on a per machine and similar licenses.

custom development for large entities.

Leasing the source code to "select customers".

Writing books ( I may be mistaken but there are some Oracle SQL books written by people at Oracle ).

Selling support to customers large and small.

Oracle already has a large share of the SQL market so the market share incentive is moot. Simply put Oracle would make less money if it's SQL was Open source.

So if they won't open why not port to Linux? This would be pretty easy since Oracle SQL is cross platform by design, and would have an immediate impact on the bottom line when those frustrated Linuxen start buying Oracle SQL.

I have read a lot of talk of "The killer app", however there is also the little known concept of "The crusher app" (TM).

A Crusher App is one which is far better in every way. It is more powerful, It has more features, It is more stable, It is easier to use, It is more secure and of course comes with full source code, no price tag and is fully compatible with software connected to competing products.

Oracle knows full well that Linux is well on it's way to becoming such a crusher app. They also know that with wider acceptance 1 or more of the GPLd SQL servers will develop into a crusher app. The other fact of which Oracle is aware is that a significant portion of it's customers are ready and willing to adopt Linux for mid range and small servers but have not done so simply because they have built a significant base on Oracle's software and there is no Oracle SQL for Linux ( Running another Oracle in emulation mode doesn't count ). However rest assured that Oracle has a native Linux version of it's software hidden in a dark corner as insurance for the possibility that Linux will become the largest server software anyway.

With all this taken into consideration what is Oracle's plan ? Quite simply to delay the completion of the GNU revolution as long as possible. While that stay of execution is in force they will be able to continue raking in money by the truckload and when the revolution overtakes them they will already have moved on to a less profitable but still sustainable business model. What if the company simply dies in this revolution ? Not Likely. Oracle has enough existing contracts, cash reserves and other assets to keep going for a few more years at least. Plenty of time to rebuild the Company and modify the business model

Tomorrow on flamebait. Corel :)

(Important Note From Rob:Many of the conversations here have been great lately: minimal flaming, rational arguements, and all around quality. Let's make this another one. Good conversations are the best part about Slashdot, and they don't happen unless everyone plays nicely. There are a lot of people reading Slashdot these days, and everything you post here reflects not only on you, but on Linux).