The Flavors of Java Open Source
The meaning of "open source" has changed with time. What was once used almost as a synonym for freeware, now means a lot more. With many companies now looking at open source as a way to do business and make money, things have changed even more lately. While all open source was earlier the same, the concepts of "real open source" and "commercial open source" have now emerged.
In this article, Lajos Moczar sheds more light on the changing face of open source. He looks at what is open source and how the Apache’s brand of open source is different from that of a company like JBoss. He looks at open source with reference to two models:
* The Volunteer Model
* The Commercial Model
Read More>> The Open Source Monopoly
Numerous companies offer ‘paid’ support models for software (including apache) that have an open source license. That doesn’t change the fact that the software is open source. in fact a lot of volunteers have been making money consulting on the software they contribute to. That doesn’t change the fact that the software is open source
jboss application server didn’t start out having a ‘paid’ support model around it. the software existed way before there was ‘profit’. The other ‘jboss’ projects (hibernate, jbpm, etc.) also existed before jboss added them to the stack of supported software.
Volunteers still contribute to the various jboss projects even though jboss group makes money off consulting and training.
if jboss started making money training people on tomcat and on tomcat support contracts that wouldn’t change the fact that tomcat is open source
It?s not a monopoly; jboss isn’t limiting your ability to make money off the jboss stack. The license doesn?t prohibit you from offering documentation, training and support. If you mean a monopoly of mind share, please try to remember that most C level decision makers never even heard of JBoss 9 months ago.
The real decision makers, developers who download open source to make there lives easily will tend to gravitate to the best product over time. The economics of open source will continue to allow new entrants into the market.
The jboss stack is a collection of open source projects is open source, jboss group is a commercial concern. Perhaps it?s a shame that they share the same name, that?s what seems to have got you upset.
If you looking for a bad guy in open source, talk to the people that offer an open-source entry product and a full featured commercial product. I think you’ll have at least a defensive able position, if that happens to be something you also find offensive.
Jboss makes money and yet the ordinary user has a good server to use for free. both are happy. A win-win should always do well in the long run.
you can also find a whole bunch of open source java tools at the following: http://java-source.net/
for my comments on the articles you can read it at: http://www.javamart.ca/blog