[WEB4LIB] Re: how to get it all done

[Joshua Ferraro]

I don't think 'saying' you're using open source is the point. Neither
is using open source that's inferior to proprietary systems. The
difference with open source is that you have the power to change how
the tool measures up. That's how companies like Red Hat and LibLime
exist: we have users who recognize that it's more efficient to pay for
support and development than licenses.

For instance, when Nelsonville Public Library in Ohio first looked 
at Koha, it didn't have MARC support. They could have thrown the towel
in right there and decided to go with a proprietary system -- as a tool,
Koha didn't measure up. However, when they looked at the numbers they
realized that developing MARC support would cost less than migrating
to another proprietary system. 

And regardless of whether a system is built on open source tools, it's
proprietary when the code is closed. EE may be a great product, but
what will happen to it if pMachine decides not to continue development
on it? If it was open source, it's users could simply find another
software team to continue.

Joshua

On Fri, Apr 22, 2005 at 08:03:40AM -0700, Alnisa Allgood wrote:
> At 5:59 AM -0700 4/22/05, Joshua Ferraro wrote:
> >I must agree with Mike's comments. Open-source CMSes are every bit as
> >full-featured and powerful as their proprietary counterparts. A great
> >way to evaluate Open-source CMSes is to visit http://www.opensourcecms.com/
> >which has quite a few fully-working demos. Also, if you want to see a
> >library-specific demo, LibLime has one that uses Mambo:
> 
> I've never been a proponent of using open-source software, just to 
> say your using open-source.  I believe the benefits of open source 
> software, especially for nonprofit and public institutions are great. 
> Nonprofit Tech, the nonprofit I work with, is a strong advocate for 
> open-source software in the sector; but each tool still needs to be 
> measured on its own.
> 
> There's a lot of really bad open-source software; just as there is 
> volumes upon volumes of really bad commercial software.  My 
> recommendation of Expression Engine, doesn't really say anything 
> about either the good or bad of open-source vs commercial. It says, 
> that I believe EE rocks. It's simple, clean, easy-to-use, 
> easy-to-develop for, flexible, powerful, and well worth the small 
> cost associated with it. Especially since it will save you tons of 
> money, tons of time, and tons of hair pulling.
> 
> Besides Expression Engine is commercial not strictly proprietarial. 
> It's based on open source tools (PHP and MySQL, a LAMP solution). 
> There is a difference, I use open source tools to make a living, and 
> so does pMachine the makers of EE. I just acknowledge that theu've 
> coded a better system than I could have, while adhering to many of 
> the priniciples of development I consider important; and I'm willing 
> to pay them for that.
> 
> Alnisa
> 

-- 
Joshua Ferraro               VENDOR SERVICES FOR OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE
CEO, LIBLIME                migration, training, maintenance, support
jmf at liblime.com          Koha ILS, Mambo Intranet, DiscrimiNet Filter
1(740)707-7654               TRY OUR FULL DEMOS AT http://liblime.com