Top Ten Open Source Innovators

42istheanswer writes "Open source is so much more than Linux these days. A lot is happening beyond the popular operating system. Open source models are thriving in CRM (SugarCRM), messaging (Scalix), and systems management (Zenoss). Datamation has identified ten leading commercial open-source innovators and the projects they are working on in their article, Ten Leading Open Source Innovators."

Comments

Another open source project to keep an eye on...

[Anonymous Coward]

We recently discovered an open source project that is easily on the leading edge of its industry.

In my opinion there has been a huge gap in open source software covering the employee payroll and time management industry and TimeTrex seems to have stepped up to the plate in a major way.

Our company used to spend over $30,000 a year outsourcing just our payroll to ADP and another $5000-10,0000 a year on time and attendance software. With TimeTrex we were able to consolidate them into one package and eliminate those costs and integration headaches in one fell swoop.

If payroll is a headache at your company, check this project out.

Calling SugarCRM "open source" is generous

[kimvette]

http://www.vtiger.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=22

Their original SPL was basically a search and replace of "Mozilla" in the MPL, replacing "Mozilla" with "Sugar"

After another group *gasp* dared exercise their rights provided for in the SPL(MPL), they threatened to sue, pissed and moaned, complained because trademarks were removed (Uh, They HAD to remove trademarks for redistribution of a modifief variant to be compliant with your license!)

Since then SugarCRM has NOT been open source; it has been shared source. Here's why:

You cannot derive a new product from SugarCRM; for all practical purposes, the "license" forbids it.

The license allows you to view and modify the source, and extend to it
If you contribute code to the core project, you give all ownership and credits to SugarCRM. OK, fine, I can buy that you give ownership to them, but you should be able to be credited in your code contribution.

If you ever subscribe to the Pro/Enterprise version of Sugar, you agree to waive your rights to use the "Open Source" edition ever again, and are "forbidden" to take your Pro/Enterprise database and import the data into the "Open Source" edition.

I hardly consider that to be open source, or to be in the spirit of open source.

If you need a CRM, I highly recommend vTiger over SugarCRM.

Re:Calling SugarCRM "open source" is generous

[Anonymous Coward]

No he cannot, this is a case of poor reading comprehension.

In particular the poster above is misinterpreting these sections of the SPL:

6.3. Derivative Works.
If You create or use a modified version of this License (which you may only do
in order to apply it to code which is not already Covered Code governed by this
License), You must (a) rename Your license so that the phrases "SugarCRM",
"SPL" or any confusingly similar phrase do not appear in your license (except
to note that your license differs from this License) and (b) otherwise make it
clear that Your version of the license contains terms which differ from the
SugarCRM Public License. (Filling in the name of the Initial Developer, Original
Code or Contributor in the notice described in Exhibit A shall not of themselves be deemed to be modifications of this License.)

II. SugarCRM and logo.

This License does not grant any rights to use the trademarks "SugarCRM" and the "SugarCRM" logos even if such marks are included in the Original Code or Modifications.

However, in addition to the other notice obligations, all copies of the Covered Code in Executable and Source Code form distributed must, as a form of attribution of the original author, include on each user interface screen (i) the "Powered by SugarCRM" logo and (ii) the copyright notice in the same form as the latest version of the Covered Code distributed by SugarCRM, Inc. at the time of distribution of such copy. In addition, the "Powered by SugarCRM" logo must be visible to all users and be located at the very bottom center of each user interface screen. Notwithstanding the above, the dimensions of the "Powered By SugarCRM" logo must be at least 106 x 23 pixels. When users click on the "Powered by SugarCRM" logo it must direct them back to http://www.sugarforge.org./ In addition, the copyright notice must remain visible to all users at all times at the bottom of the user interface screen. When users click on the copyright notice, it must direct them back to http://www.sugarforge.org/

You forgot Digium / Asterisk!

[mikespice]

They forgot Digium, the Asterisk company. Its hard to imagine a list of open source innovations that doesn't include Asterisk!

Re:In what way are these open source?

[chromatic]

Under the GPL, they are only required to provide source if you pay for the binary.

It's actually if they distribute the binary to you. They can charge or not. The GPL only governs redistribution of copyrighted works. It's up to you how you redistribute a work.