The days of proprietary technology must come to an end,” he said. “We will no longer accept systems that couple hardware, software and data."
Friday, March 14, 2008
Now the US Navy gets the point
When will the rest of us do? I partically liked the quote:
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Increase your productivity?
I really enjoyed reading this post by Matt More. I am sure you will as well.
Free Software, the time is ripe
From a corporate point of view, there has been a history of dismissing free software and open source software as a couple of hobby projects. We can all agree on that, right?
Today however, a number companies has understood the power of using these systems on more or less all the x86 and Power PC based server platforms. Even though the officially supported versions aren't for free, they are in most cases (mostly) based on GNU/Linux, i.e. (mostly) free software.
Isn't it time all companies took a step back to consider the risks of using non-free software? We buy our software to be used in business critical parts of our processes. Could you imagine buying any other machinery (or even a computer) where you wave your right to open it? Where you are not allowed to let an independent specialist fix it if broken? I sure don't hope so for the sake of your business.
Can we still agree on this?
Sometimes we have to take a calculated risk. I for one am writing this article on my Apple, running on the non-free Mac OS X. In my calculations, I have included the facts that:
I recommend you read it. In a few years from now you will otherwise wish you had. Why is that? Because as this type of software grows more and more common, it will eventually be the only sensible way of acquiring and distributing software.
For example, a customer or a group of customers will be able to have a software made but can after that choose any programmer to develop the software further. See? The power will be in the customer's hands.
This has serious implications on some of our business models used today so what you need to do is to analyze these implications on your specific business. Today. What risks are you taking and are you aware of them?
Today however, a number companies has understood the power of using these systems on more or less all the x86 and Power PC based server platforms. Even though the officially supported versions aren't for free, they are in most cases (mostly) based on GNU/Linux, i.e. (mostly) free software.
Isn't it time all companies took a step back to consider the risks of using non-free software? We buy our software to be used in business critical parts of our processes. Could you imagine buying any other machinery (or even a computer) where you wave your right to open it? Where you are not allowed to let an independent specialist fix it if broken? I sure don't hope so for the sake of your business.
Can we still agree on this?
Sometimes we have to take a calculated risk. I for one am writing this article on my Apple, running on the non-free Mac OS X. In my calculations, I have included the facts that:
- I do not know what information I am releasing to my supplier.
- I must assume that my supplier can, at any time release an update that breaks my operating system.
- If I experience defects in my operating system, my supplier is the only one I can turn to and I have no or little chance to be heard.
I recommend you read it. In a few years from now you will otherwise wish you had. Why is that? Because as this type of software grows more and more common, it will eventually be the only sensible way of acquiring and distributing software.
For example, a customer or a group of customers will be able to have a software made but can after that choose any programmer to develop the software further. See? The power will be in the customer's hands.
This has serious implications on some of our business models used today so what you need to do is to analyze these implications on your specific business. Today. What risks are you taking and are you aware of them?
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