Debate IT: Are open source acquisitions by big vendors good for consumers?
- 06 February, 2009 14:52
- Comments 5
Michael "Monty" Widenius, the original developer of the open-source MySQL database, has left Sun Microsystems and is starting his own company, Monty Program Ab, he said in a blog post on Thursday.
According to Monty, the main reason for leaving was that he was not satisfied with the way the MySQL server has been developed. “In particular I would have like (sic) to see the server development to be moved to a true open development environment that would encourage outside participation and without any need of differentiation on the source code. Sun has been considering opening up the server development, but the pace has been too slow.”
Monty also took issue with Sun releasing MySQL 5.1 as "generally available" last December, despite it being riddled with serious bugs.
So, this brings forward an interesting conundrum. Do proprietary vendors have the right nous and company culture to nurture open source acquisitions? Do they help foster or hinder such development, once such a company – like MySQL -- has been acquired? Do consumers benefit or suffer when serious money, and control, is thrown into the equation?
Tell us what you think...
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Comments
SebH
Those big corporate guys just don't get it yet.
They think they can take an open source project and then run it like one of their own internal projects.
That can't work.
People get involved with open source because it gives hundreds of frustrated engineers the chance to do what's right, rather than what's needed to ship right now. It's a really bad short term strategy, but in the long term, we have happier coders, better code and less bugs.
In cases like this we just get the worst of both worlds though.
What's even more amazing to me is that this is happening to Sun. They get it more than the others. Imagine what would have happened if it had been one of the other being IT companies!
Gonads
ah Sun...
while your efforts
ah Sun...
while your efforts are appreciated, theres just something wrong with the software you deliver.
i mean it might work, but its just a little lop-sided.
Angry_Girl
Sun behind a cloud...
The light's no longer shining at sun...
Duncan
I wonder if Monty is considering a fork?
If he can open up the development of MySQL then I'd be all for that. I think there are a few developers that use MySQL who would be more comfortable with that as well.
Having said that I don't think it is that bad. Sun have been progressing in open source for some time - Java, Solaris etc. They've also been open to reviewing their open source policies based on user feedback. Give them time.
Wholey fail
Monty's off to join Python?
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