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The Business Value of Open Source Examined

Posted by michael on from the intellectual-capital dept.

jg21 writes "'Open source developers have the opportunity to influence technology that is being used by companies and do it on a global scale in a way that cannot occur with any other type of software,' contends Bill Claybrook, writing in the current issue of LinuxWorld. The article is a historical overview of the open source revolution, starting in the 80s with the GNU Project, BSD, and TCP/IP and then moving into the 90s with Red Hat, StarOffice, and coming right into the 21st century with the Ximian Desktop and Sun's Linux-based Sun Java Desktop System."

7 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Re:That's great and all... by abigor · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes, and without your tremendous skill and abilities, the world of open source will surely shrivel and die. Because really, it's all about you.

  2. Freesoft ware is worth what you pay for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    of course, if you pay $ for free software, that also proves barnum's rule.

  3. Re:That's great and all... by Lord+Kano · · Score: 1, Funny

    If we didn't have open source code to spend our free time on, we'd all be surfing your most excellent website instead.

    I just bookmarked his site. It's great, and I just happen to be working on coding a database at the same time!

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  4. Re:That's great and all... by dan_sdot · · Score: 3, Funny

    Did you just compare programming to sports??? Wow.

  5. HURD is a seminal project? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    HURD - the OS that has been in development for nearly 20 years and still doesn't work makes your list of seminal projects for all of the last three decades?

    By this standard Minix has gotta be the project of the century :-)

  6. Re:Poor examples of free software by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 4, Funny

    And for the next 3 centuries:

    2100 Nanotechnology software, Home genetic engineering software, HURD
    2200 Warp engine controller software, HURD
    2300 Mental telepathy software, HURD

    And HURD will still be in development and "almost ready". ;)

    --
    Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
  7. Re:"Open source" began in the 90s, not the 80s. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Now for a slightly more important topic: how many Angels can dance ...