"Fighting free and open software is like fighting gravity". Do you know who said this? Jonathan Schwartz, CEO of Sun Microsystems. I am sure open source supporters like me would have felt a sense of loss when got to know that Oracle acquires Sun Microsystems. Now will the product like Java and MySQL be still an open source? Losses for free software movement? When I was working in a Multi National Company, I did project for Sun. Still remember the facts which I read on Sun Microsystems that time. Free software’s of Sun Microsystems is more popular than proprietary software like those of Oracle and MS, among the students who have more time than money. And these students while joining the workforce or starting their own companies disproportionately go for free software of Sun.
As per a survey Worldwide, less than 6% knew oracle, but over 90% knew Sun's rival database product MySQL. Nearly 75% of the projects developed were in Java and its variations. Despite this scenario why did the company sell out? The idea was to build a big developer network by giving its software free to those that have more time than money and sell its service and support to those that have money than time. But looks like the strategy has run out of time. May be it’s a "win-win" for oracle and Sun Microsystems. But how will the open source developers win?
As per a survey Worldwide, less than 6% knew oracle, but over 90% knew Sun's rival database product MySQL. Nearly 75% of the projects developed were in Java and its variations. Despite this scenario why did the company sell out? The idea was to build a big developer network by giving its software free to those that have more time than money and sell its service and support to those that have money than time. But looks like the strategy has run out of time. May be it’s a "win-win" for oracle and Sun Microsystems. But how will the open source developers win?
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