Comments on: Tuesday’s Tip: Why Free Software Ain’t Really Free http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/2009/10/06/tuesdays-tip-why-free-software-aint-really-free/ batting for the enterprise tech buyer Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:15:04 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Frank Scavo http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/2009/10/06/tuesdays-tip-why-free-software-aint-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Frank Scavo Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:47:33 +0000 http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/?p=66#comment-10 Not to distract from Ray's main point, which I agree with. But open source is much more than merely having access to source code. Many ERP vendors (e.g. SAP) give access to source code, but they are not open source. Open source, as I'm sure we all know, has to do with the licensing rights--not only I (the user) have access to the source code, but I am allowed to resell or redistribute the code. SAP may give away code for free, but trust me, they will not allow you to redistribute it. There are other rights with open source as well, such as the right to make derivative works. For a full definition, visit http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd Interestingly, the very first sentence of the OSI definition is, "Open source doesn't just mean access to the source code." Not to distract from Ray’s main point, which I agree with. But open source is much more than merely having access to source code. Many ERP vendors (e.g. SAP) give access to source code, but they are not open source.

Open source, as I’m sure we all know, has to do with the licensing rights–not only I (the user) have access to the source code, but I am allowed to resell or redistribute the code. SAP may give away code for free, but trust me, they will not allow you to redistribute it. There are other rights with open source as well, such as the right to make derivative works.

For a full definition, visit http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd
Interestingly, the very first sentence of the OSI definition is, “Open source doesn’t just mean access to the source code.”

]]> By: Dennis Byron http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/2009/10/06/tuesdays-tip-why-free-software-aint-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Dennis Byron Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:56:32 +0000 http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/?p=66#comment-9 Ray, This is a great check list for comparing any enterprise software deal. But along with Savio's suggestion on open source/FLOSS/freeware definitions, let's not pretend that the idea of giving away enterprise-software-module-A in order to sell enterprise-software-module-B is something new. Remember BEA complaining about how IBM overtook them in application server sales. Or SAP complaining about how Oracle bundled apps and middleware deals together. Or Oracle complaining about... everyone else :) In fact this marketing approach is where all the shelfware you guys complain about comes from. Dennis Ray, This is a great check list for comparing any enterprise software deal. But along with Savio’s suggestion on open source/FLOSS/freeware definitions, let’s not pretend that the idea of giving away enterprise-software-module-A in order to sell enterprise-software-module-B is something new. Remember BEA complaining about how IBM overtook them in application server sales. Or SAP complaining about how Oracle bundled apps and middleware deals together. Or Oracle complaining about… everyone else :) In fact this marketing approach is where all the shelfware you guys complain about comes from.

Dennis

]]> By: R 'Ray' Wang http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/2009/10/06/tuesdays-tip-why-free-software-aint-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-6 R 'Ray' Wang Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:11:20 +0000 http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/?p=66#comment-6 Good point. In the very early days Open Source movement was known as Freeware. A misnomer I still carry with me. Time to strike that down! Thanks savio! Good point. In the very early days Open Source movement was known as Freeware. A misnomer I still carry with me. Time to strike that down! Thanks savio!

]]> By: Savio Rodrigues http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/2009/10/06/tuesdays-tip-why-free-software-aint-really-free/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Savio Rodrigues Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:05:14 +0000 http://blog.enterpriseadvocates.com/?p=66#comment-5 @rwang0, Minor edit, with major ramifications to FOSS folks: > However, free should not be confused with the Open Source (i.e. Freeware) movement, where source code is provided with minimal copyright restrictions. Freeware != Open Source. Freeware is software with a price tag of $0.00. Freeware says nothing about whether the source code for the software is available or not. On the other hand, open source software ensures that the source code is available. Open source software can have a price tag of $0.00 or higher. So, if you strike "(i.e. Freeware)" from that sentence we're all good ;-) @rwang0,

Minor edit, with major ramifications to FOSS folks:

> However, free should not be confused with the Open Source (i.e. Freeware) movement, where source code is provided with minimal copyright restrictions.

Freeware != Open Source.

Freeware is software with a price tag of $0.00. Freeware says nothing about whether the source code for the software is available or not.

On the other hand, open source software ensures that the source code is available. Open source software can have a price tag of $0.00 or higher.

So, if you strike “(i.e. Freeware)” from that sentence we’re all good ;-)

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