Why is there a market? Well, Milestone R/D Labs principle (Marc Rassbach) has been in the general purpose computing machine market for over 20 years. And, for the longest time, I used Unix based solutions. I arrived in the Unix camp after Apple Computer cancelled the Apple ][. (and before that, I was in the Tandy camp. I arrived in the Tandy camp sick and tired of the relibility of the Z80 system I built from scratch for myself.) Having read the 1995 vintage NT and Office95 licences, and not agreeing to these clauses, I decided that the future infrasructure of my firm will not be built on such a foundation.
Going from "I will use open souce solutions whenever possible" to "I will use open source solutions" initlly took a leap of faith. But, upon reflection, there was little leaping to do. Whenever I had a problem with Windows NT, the answer was to reload the package. (for this, I called Microsoft? I figured that out all by myself 2 days ago. After searching the knowledgebase and searching UseNet, I had hoped the call would offer hope.) When my queries worked with 1 100 record database and didn't with a 500 record database under Access, I looked in the knowledgebase. I'd find "This is a known problem and Microsoft is working on a solution" - a solution that STILL doesn't exist 3 software relases later, I knew there was a better way. A way where the soucrecode existed...a why that if I wanted the problem fixed, I had access to the code. (Now, that doesn't mean the other tool I need - my mind is up to the task, or that for the work to be done to "make the code right" is more 'costly' than just doing a work-around isn't the path I'd choose)
The final straw was the NT licence clause:
f) Indemnify, hold harmless, and defend Microsoft and its suppliers
from and against any claims or lawsuits, including attorney's fees, that
arise or result from the use or distribution of your Application.
Looking at any contract drawn up between parties as a "divorce document"
(If everything between two parties go exactly as planned, a contract is
unnecessary), how can my firm realistically support a non-open source solution?
If you don't have access to every piece of software from the start to the
finish, how can you truly deliver what you promised? If your promise is
based on an EXACT job you have done before, then yes, you can make a valid
promise. Otherwise, you are guessing on what is or is not possible. Now,
changing the database code to support unicode may be cost-prohibitive,
but at least you have the OPTION of making the delervable. And, really....isn't
that what you want? A solution that works?
Thusly the quest was started. To build an environment based on open sources. And, having been there, this accumilated knowledge is aviable for your business. We at Milestone R/D Labs can provide you with the advice and skills to intergrate your present environment with the open source world.
And, we can provide advocacy as to why open source solutions provide you with more stability and piece of mind than traditional coftware solutions, when approperate.