Open-Source Soft{ware,drink}: "OpenCOLA"

Rahoule writes: "The National Post reports that a Toronto company will release the first open-source cola with its open-source software: 'Steelbridge Inc. will announce today it [will] develop openCOLA, a new software program which automates the selection, discovery, and evaluation of Web sites.'" FAQ question 2.2: "Ain't this just a publicity stunt?" Answer: "Sure. But ..."

They describe an interesting-sounding distributed Napsteresque Web crawler, but there's just one thing missing from this open-source project: source. "You'll start seeing code after Labor Day," says today's press release.

Comments

riiiiiiiiiiiiight.

[fluxrad]

this is so trendy it's pathetic.

BTW - i'll be open sourcing my ass next week for all of you who'd like to get a look at it. I figure if i get enough venture capital and go IPO/Open-Source with it, i'll be able to make millions off it. (Yes, that's pronounced GNU/Ass)


FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network

Their "Legal" Page Is Hilarious

[sigwinch]

Click here

To quote

1) See if Hemos and Commander Taco are secretly plotting to buy openCola with the windfall profits they accrued from selling Hemos' sister to the Sultan of Brunei;

Or this little gem in the boilerplate:

WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NONINFRINGEMENT OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND RIGHT ABOUT NOW, THE FUNK SOULBROTHER, CHECK IT OUT, THE FUNK SOUL BROTHER. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION GIVEN BY STEELBRIDGE SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE ABOUT AS DUMB AS A BAG OF HAMMERS.

Imagine a Beowulf cluster of openCOLA! It could quench the thirstiest finite-element analysis researcher!

openCOLA, the ultimate conspiracy

[hypergeek]

From the article:

The soft drink won't be sold in stores, but will be handed out to hackers at trade shows and conferences and distributed to others at special events.

I can picture a friendly-looking moustacioed nerd passing out cans of openCOLA...

Nerd: Want some free openCOLA?

Kernel Hacker: Is it free like "free speech" or like "free cola"?

Nerd: Umm... both, I guess... just try some...

Kernel Hacker: Does it have lots and lots of caffeine?

Nerd: This stuff makes Jolt(tm) seem like rainwater in comparison!

K.H.: Is that normal rain or acid rain?

Nerd: Just try it. Come on... the first one's free... everyone's doing it... don't you want to be '1337?

K.H.: Not particularly... but that stuff sounds powerful... lemme try some...

Nerd: (snickering, hands over a can)

K.H.: Ahhhh... this stuff is goo-- URRk! (Plop! The poor Kernel Hacker falls to the ground...)

Nerd peels off fake moustache revealing that he is actually Bill Gates.

Bill: Mua ha ha ha! That's what you get for writing xbill back in college!

A Large, Bald Goon (Ballmer?) drags the corpse of the poor hacker away, then eats it.

Open Cola? Isn't that what the tabs are for?

[krystal_blade]

Forgive me for saying so, but I think the idea of Open Cola is bad. A couple reasons.

1. Most Cola comes pre packaged closed to keep contaminents out of the can.

2. An Open Cola is more susceptible to doing harm by "bad" people who poison it. It is less secure than closed cola. (This statement paid for by Microsoft)

3. An Open Cola is more consuming on resources, and management, as improper handling techniques could lead to an unexpected spill, leak, or even crash. Closed Cola somehow magically circumvents this effect.

4. Open Cola is, by it's very nature dangerous stuff. Due to it's high citrus and sugar content, it can and does regularly damage teeth. It is also carbonated, which could allow for the unexpected to inhale through the opening, and suffocate. Closed cola, while also carbonated, high in citrus and sugar content, and generally no better than Open Cola, cannot be tested as thoroughly, due to the restricting "One Tab" EULA agreement vendors place on their customers.

5. An Open Cola is more apt to go stale quicker than a Closed Cola. Unless, of course, you enact the EULA of the Closed Cola.

krystal_blade