Open-source

[TINNY]

How about a discussion on open-source. Come on, the Computer Programming category needs some fire.
What's the future going to be? Linux? Or Microsoft? Maybe both will exist harmoniously?
Microsoft has started an open-source initiative with the .NET thingie, where you can write apps that are platform independent, sort of like java. Instead of the Java Virtual Machine, there's the .NET Framework.
How good is Linux and how is it going to take for Linux to reach home computers?
Judging from past history, Microsoft has incredibly managed to stave off numerable competitors like IBM,Netscape, Novell ... No reason it cannot beat Linux/Open-source. Perhaps, Gates will run out of ideas?
Come on you guys, why is it just cosmology?

[Tormod]

Well, it is mostly cosmology (and physics and astronomy) because that's what the Hypography forums were all about until Alex started this group just before Christmas. I guess it takes a while for each group to get rolling.

Frankly, I don't know much about Microsoft's .NET initiative, apart from the fact that it is a 30 megabyte install which I haven't cared to do on my PC.

I would like to use Linux but so far none of the apps I use regularly are available for it. I actually paid for a license for Mandrake Linux just because I couldn't be bothered to install everything myself. It worked fine on an old PC which is cool, but I had absolutely no use for it.

Here in Norway there is a volunteer initiativ group who have made something they call "school linux". They want all the schools in my city to start using it, since it's free. But the city council has an agreement with Microsoft that they can only use Windows on their PCs.

I think that is one example of where Linux should REALLY be taken into use, because the schools are extremely short of funding and if kids can learn how to use a word processor, surf the web, do maths etc I see absolutely no reason why they should be forced to use Microsoft products.

I expect to see both Microsoft and Linux live for a long while still. And there is a third OS up there, too: Macintosh OSX, which is using a UNIX core. I really like OSX, and use a Mac at work and a PC at home.

Just my 2c,

Tormod

[TINNY]

Can OSX be installed on a regular PC?
I've installed red hat linux alongside winXP, installation was smooth. but same with you, there's no use for consumers.
Anyway, pirated copies of windows and it's softwares are all over the place. just search warez. so it's not reallly an excuse that you dont have money to use windows.
isn't copyright law violated when the software is used for commercial purposes?
It's really for servers, they say it's more stable and secure compared to microsoft's.
I wonder how open-source is going to survive when everything's free? Who's going to invest money to develop good software when there's no money in return?

[Tormod]

OSX is Mac only...and fairly new Macs at that.

Copyright law is usually violated the instant you install a product you don't own. What open source is all about, is to provide users with software which is free of charge as long as you follow certain rules. The point is that some people think this will let software evolve in a more user-friendly way, because the commercial aspects of a product is not so strong.

http://www.opensource.org/

Open source has nothing to do with program being pirated or not - it is still possible to violate the rules of an open source program and thus use it illegally.

I think open source is a natural extension of "shareware", but it allows many developers to participate on developing the same product.

Tormod

[Freethinker]

Open Source is to software what Socialism is to politics. Everyone owns/ has acccess to it and adds what they can merely for the benefit of the community. It represents the future of software, Superdistribution. Revenue for open source comes from custom development/ implementation/ support rather than from initial sales. I use Mozilla, the open source version of Netscape, for browser. We have a red hat server operation in house for custom mysql database we are developing internally. I use Staroffice on my workstation.

It is time to end Microsoft's strangle hold on the software industry. Their model of overpriced but poorly written code that you use, but DO NOT OWN needs to be kicked to the curb. To charge tech support to be told you have to BUY patches to fix THEIR problems! To have them strangle GOOD software and force companies out of biz. When things like Outlook is such crap!

The only thing holding Linux type OS back is applications. Openoffice is OK, but not there yet. Full compatibility with .doc files is a market issue. Once these issues get resolved, hello open source!

[TINNY]

why would people bother to improve open-source code for the good of others?

[Tormod]

Tinny - I suspect you don't know much about computer programming...?

By helping build better software for the good of the community, every developer get better tools with which they can build commercial sites for customers and make money on that. This can keep prices down for everyone involved, it makes it easier for developers to get good software (and can often make do with lower-spec hardware), and it makes it easier to integrate different solutions because they are built using standard methods.

So by "helping others" each developer is also helping themselves. It does not mean they do everything for free!

Tormod

[Freethinker]

Yes tormod. coders will improve open source for many reasons. That includes a desire to help others. As well as just the challenge. Even just to bitch slap the evil empire (Microsoft) :-)

[TINNY]

would they develop it in a team that interact very closely, with leaders to give directions? would they do it full-time or just when they feel like it?
sorry if this is ridiculous. i'm only using imagination, no reading and looking up facts...

[TINNY]

this site's trying to copy PHPnuke's about developing .net software that is open-source. .NET Nuke