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Open Source Fake

rsashka
2010-11-01
2013-03-07
  • rsashka

    rsashka - 2010-11-01

    Present to you attention an interesting translation of articles related to the project ADempiere.

    Introduction

    It is no secret that the words "open source" a hypnotic effect on the user. This circumstance to use unscrupulous companies. The idea is very simple to divide the software into several versions and one version to make «Open Source».
    It is very easy to create such conditions the use of Open Source version, what would it was impossible to use. In this case, all users will choose the paid version and at the same time you can in good conscience say about the product with the "open source".
    That identify these fake Open Source projects and organize the ideas expressed in the materials and comments on the site www.adempiere.ru was written this article.

    What is Open Source Fake?

    There are many software projects that contain the magic words "Open Source". The fact that they are not synonymous with the free, said so many times. These words mean only the transfer of source programs under certain conditions.

    That's about all these conditions and would like to talk.

    Restrictions for Compiere Community Edition:
    • There is no Web interface
    • No production and logistics
    • Documentation is provided only for the money
    • Updates and patches come out once a year

    Accordingly, when we speak of the system Compiere, to be sure to specify which version of the question, because words "ERP" and " Open Source and Free " refer to different versions.

    What is deprived of a FOSS version of SugarCRM?:

    • Excluded unit sales forecast
    • No report
    • Removed the ability to configure business processes
    • kept to a minimum security management system

    Excluded parts are created without the participation of Community, and nobody has the right to require their presence in the free version.
    Decision not to include these features in the free version - the legal right to system developers.
    But advertising the free version as a working CRM system not stack! And just as the word "CRM" and "Open Source and Free " refer to different versions.
    Not all of the above distinctions Open source versions of the commercial are critical in terms of functionality of the system. For some cases, the remaining possibilities Open Source version is sufficient for their operation.
    And yet, I can not relate these two systems to these open solutions, such as Druapl, ADempiere and many other projects that do not share the code for commercial and Open Source versions that do not hide information from their own community.

    What to Look For?

    You can select multiple attributes that must be analyzed before the allocation of software products in the category Open Source Fake. For whom the words "open source" are the only advertisement for the gullible buyers:

    1. Guarantee system availability in the future
    2. Limited opportunities for Open Source Version
    3. Terms of updates Open Source version
    4. Availability of technical documentation

     
    Guarantee system availability in the future - is determined by the license under which the source code is available. Confidence deserve an exclusive license, recognized the community as "open". No assurances of the company that it never, never, never be to prosecute and punish users are not credible.

    This paragraph does not apply to the systems mentioned above as an example. Their Open Source version available under the GPL license that guarantees the availability, because does not allow for a "closed" source. Unfortunately, it is very easily solved by the release of new version under a different license, and the current GPL version stops development.

    Limited opportunities for Open Source version of the system - if the code Community and commercial versions are different, it still says nothing! It is necessary to analyze what functional removed from the Open Source solutions, and the reasons for this decision. Part of the functional may be removed due to licensing restrictions, some replaced by a similar no loss of functionality. In other words, in each case, all strictly individually.
    But there is a very delicate moment, if the code is open and the commercial version of the system is identical, then the restriction of functionality may be accomplished by a license to use it.
    As an example of a license restriction features can cause Microsoft with its 10 network connections in non-server versions of Windows.

    Terms of updates Open Source version - not a secret that the support is usually only in commercial versions of products. This may be due to the conditions the release of updates for Community version, which should be very carefully analyzed. Very often creates a lot of restrictions on the release or receipt of these updates.

    I'm not saying that once wrote a program, the company must always maintain it, and only pay attention to what may be great differences in the bag fixing and upgrades for commercial and open source versions of the product.

    Availability of technical documentation - Sale of technical documentation - the most common symptom Open Source Fake system. Of course you can not criticize the producers for wanting to make money, but in the case of a complete ban on the publication of such material, the system can be considered a "Fake."

    Any Open Source project lives at the expense of the community around it. And as no documentation of such a project will increase the audience of his followers? What will the new users without a minimum of documentation?

    Conclusion
    The purpose of this article - to draw users' attention to the fact that sometimes companies under one name sell several products, which have many differences and shuffle their capabilities, limitations and conditions for obtaining and supplying them with only beneficial to the parties.

    I hope that this material will help to better focus in the choice of Open Source solutions for real applications. Do not go in the wake of unscrupulous companies who only discredit and devalue the wonderful idea of Open Source software!

    Regards,
    Ryabikov A.N.
    http://www.adempiere.ru

     
  • Redhuan D. Oon

    Redhuan D. Oon - 2010-12-12

    Hi Ryabikov,
    It is nice to hear word now and then from that community in Russia. :)

    Always give away your burden, i mean hard work. If not, someone else will, and you end up with a burden, i mean code that does not enjoy the viral community effect and merely dies undeserved after all your miserable work.

    Hopefully we continue growing tremendously in Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe - that has talent and a need for freedom.

     

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