Why you should lean on Open Source amidst turmoil
According to a latest post, Microsoft may disband the Popfly team. Popfly was their entry to the Mashup space with quite a bit of press. Google 'axed' their Mashup Editor this month and something tells me Yahoo Pipes may not last for long either. So what do all these have in common? They are proprietory, closed source software owned by companies trying to cut costs in a recession and when they are gone, no one can gather the pieces and rebuild. The users are lost without their familiar tools and will either have to look elsewhere or give up altogether.
Now take an Open Source offering such as the wso2 mashup server. Rarely in the limelight and overlooked by most tech pundits when talking about Web 2.0, Mashups or Social Computing, yet silently and steadily adding features. Features not only decided by corporate plans but demanded by a growing user community. Yes, as most Open Source software it might be a bit rough around the edges. But you can rest assured that once you ask, the developers will fix it.
So what's the difference? The code. It's there for everyone to see, download and improve. Even if it loses corporate funding or if the developers lose interest, there's always the possibility to either take over the code or fork it. That's why Open Source software is recession proof. As long as the human race survives and as long as there's server space left somewhere, the code will live!
So Mashuppers of the world. Join us, be part of the code and most of all, be free!!
Now take an Open Source offering such as the wso2 mashup server. Rarely in the limelight and overlooked by most tech pundits when talking about Web 2.0, Mashups or Social Computing, yet silently and steadily adding features. Features not only decided by corporate plans but demanded by a growing user community. Yes, as most Open Source software it might be a bit rough around the edges. But you can rest assured that once you ask, the developers will fix it.
So what's the difference? The code. It's there for everyone to see, download and improve. Even if it loses corporate funding or if the developers lose interest, there's always the possibility to either take over the code or fork it. That's why Open Source software is recession proof. As long as the human race survives and as long as there's server space left somewhere, the code will live!
So Mashuppers of the world. Join us, be part of the code and most of all, be free!!
Comments
This is a lot of bull!
Have you actually ever even ask a developer of an open source project a simple question like "can you direct me to help on how to install your software?"
If an answer is forthcomming it will most likely be something like "if you don't know how then don't do it...".
This open source is better crap is just that to the average person - crap!
I have been an Open Source evangelist and a developer more than seven years. So rest assured about my credibility to talk both as a developer and a user of FOSS. If you are still in doubt, google "Tyrell Perera".
I do agree that there are bigots. But then again, isn't that a problem of humanity in general than something unique to the Open Source world?
By blatantly accusing every single developer of Open Source software based on a single bad experience is neither productive nor fair. You are falling down to the level of that 'imposter' by doing so.
On a more logical perspective, have you seen the market capitalization of RedHat recently? Even better, goto [1]. which shows what Blogger is running on :) The very platform you're using right now. Linux and GFE/1.3. By the way, GFE is a Google modified version of the Apache Web Server. If we are 'crap' sir, your blog is powered by the same crap.
No hard feelings!
Tyrell
[1] http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://www.blogger.com