Re: [tbox-l] looking for Python 2.6 on AIX

[Reza A. <ar...@au...>]

On 15 Jun 2009, 04:16PM CDT, Jørn Amundsen <Jor...@nt...> wrote:
> Reza, it must be frustrating to contribute open source under those
> conditions. 

It is indeed.  Trust me, it's not much fun only being able to repeatedly
tell people my hands are tied.

>             It is difficult to understand why IBM can not cooperate
> with one of its long term University customers, for instance by
> donating a system, to a U, provided the U agrees to administer the
> system and keep it on to the Internet for X years. Then an open source
> project could be set up on the system, where IBM individuals and other
> package builders could contribute to the community.

UCLA used to do this.  I don't know if there was an arrangement with donated
machines, though.  

It's funny, I think in the beginning this Toolbox may have been intended to 
consolidate some of the other AIX porting projects.  Indeed, a good number 
of users (with little knowledge of open source) were attracted because they 
assumed these packages were somehow under official IBM warranty or support,
which they certainly aren't.

Now that the Toolbox has become so stale, the situation is reversing and
3rd-party alternatives are the attractive option.  There are a number of 
really good ones out there right now.  Google for "aix open source".

> IBM individuals are doing huge contributions to GCC and a lot of other
> excellent open source initiatives, so how come it is not possible to
> establish an open source project on packaging RPM's for AIX ?

Contributing to open source is actually a less hairy issue.  The big 
difference is that the Toolbox is seen as IBM actually _distributing_ open 
source, even if it's just as a conduit; packaging with no modification.

The perceived risk of distributing other people's code was enough for 
our various lawyers and steering committees to completely cripple the project 
with process and red tape.

I think it is definitely possible to establish an open source AIX RPM project.
However, if IBM itself is at all involved in the operation of said project,
the bureaucracy will again deem that we are endorsing or distributing open 
source, and you can expect it to be neutered the same way the Toolbox was.

> I am puzzled why not the SPXXL user group (www.spxxl.org) have
> addressed this. Is it to your knowledge brought up at any of their
> meetings ?

Sorry, I have no idea.

> The present is a loss both to IBM and the customers regarding the
> supply in quantity and frequency of RPM packages, as compared to
> competing systems on other platforms and other vendors.

I agree 100%.


-- 
Reza Arbab
ar...@au...