03 Jul 07 6 Myths About Open Source

By Emma McGrattan, SVP of Engineering, Ingres

In every poker game, there comes a moment of truth - when one opponent calls another’s bluff. Everyone lays down their hand and a winner is declared based on the cards they hold. Well, we think it is time now to call the bluff on closed-source vendors, which have long argued that open source is a niche IT option, unable to support mission-critical applications, and that any update to the code is unregulated. It is time to tell the truth about today’s open source software.

1. Open source is a niche IT sector
2. Open source cannot support mission-critical applications
3. Open source companies do not own their intellectual property
4. Open source technology does not offer professional level support
5. Open source is unregulated and anyone can contribute code
6. Open Source software is not secure

Summary
The open-source market has evolved and grown in leaps and bounds. Open-source is a viable option for large enterprises and small businesses alike, and this realization poses a real threat to the bottom line of closed-source providers. What the closed-source players lack is the recognition that the open source movement is a result of years of collaboration with the customer, involving them in every step of development, and delivering premier class support and services - a completely different business model to what they are accustomed to. So today, the open source providers like Ingres, who have over 30 years relational database heritage, are set to be the disruptive technology of the future.

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