Is Open Source too Complex?

Jason Pillai writes to tell us ZDNet is reporting that at last month's Microsoft Worldwide Parter Conference in Boston Ryan Gavin, director of platform strategy, claimed that one of the big downsides to open source is complexity. From the article: "Gavin noted that the flexibility of open-source software in meeting specific business needs also means systems integrators and ISVs have to grapple with complexity costs. 'It's challenging for partners to build competencies to support Linux, because you never quite know what you're going to be supporting,' he added. 'Customers who run Linux could be operating in Red Hat, [Novell's] Suse, or even customized Debian environments,' he explained. 'You don't get that repeatable [development] process to build your business over time.'" More than once I have had complaints that my setup is more difficult than necessary. Is open source really that much harder, or just different than what most are used to?

Comments

Re:Learning curve

[Ash Vince]

I can see why some one like yourself who has problems with english would not like config-in-text-files.

(the correct wording would be "All config-in-text-files are the biggest peices of junk")

The nice thing about storing config info in a text file is that if it becomes corrupt a smart human (something you are definately not) can go through the text file and see where it is corrupt and fix it without needing any extra software. If it is stored in some sort of binary file you need some thing like regedit.