| ESC debate: Open vs. Proprietary Software |
Rick Lehrbaum (Mar. 11, 2000)
In recognition of the burgeoning role of Linux and open-source software in embedded system development, the recent Embedded Systems Conference (Chicago, IL; March, 2000) opened with a panel discussion on: "The Open Source Phenomenon: Is the Embedded Systems Business Ready for it?"
The session was billed as follows . . .
The open-source software model has reached the world of embedded systems. Some see it as a good alternative to royalty-based software. Others see it as yet another hassle for the already harried embedded developer. This panel will shed light on this intriguing topic and answer such questions as:
What is open source?
Is it really free?
How will developers benefit from using it?
What are the drawbacks?
How do vendors make money dealing in open source?The moderator for the session, which turned out to be more like tag-team mud wrestling than a discussion on embedded software, was Jim Turley, VP Marketing, ARC Cores Inc. The panelists were:- Michael Tiemann -- Chief Technology Officer, Red Hat Software
- Jim Ready -- Founder and CEO, Montavista Software
- Jean Labrosse -- Senior Technical Staff, Dynalco Controls, author
- Bill Gatliff -- freelance embedded developer
- John Fogelin -- VP Technology, Wind River Systems
- Don Chouinard -- Windows CE Product Manager, Microsoft
The audience consisted of several hundred ESC attendees who seemed to be primarily software engineers.
The event began with opening statements from the panelists.
Turley (session moderator) -- Maybe the the purpose of open source software is this: "What the hell. Why not write code, give it away (as open source), and let other people debug it for me?" What do you think . . . ?
Gatlif (freelance developer) -- Open source is what works for me. The tools work better. I make my living using the GNU tools, so that's important. Also, as a developer, I feel strongly that nobody knows more about my system than I do. I can't afford to leave it to a proprietary RTOS/OS vendor to solve my problems. That's why open source is so essential to me in my work.
Chouinard (Microsoft) -- If you're looking for, fast time-to-market, low cost, long term viability, support, foot-print modularity, continued technology innovation, and OS scalability, then we at Microsoft have what you need. If source code is an issue, we'll even provide you with access to the source of the OS (unspecified Ts & Cs) -- however, for reading only (not for modifying).
Tiemann (Red Hat) -- Open source = read, modify, share. Open source implies constant peer review. Open source isn't something done by a company; it's a community process. Red Hat software is 100% pure open source. I've noticed, lately, that I'm not hearing so many complaints about VxWorks and pSOS now that the talk has begun to focus around using embedded Linux. EL/IX offers a new standard that provides open source OS/RTOS capability accross all levels of application on a broad spectrum of post-PC hardware.
Labrosse (Dynalco Controls) -- I design embedded systems using open source software and have written two books on the subject. I give source away to everything I've written.
Fogelin (Wind River Systems) -- Let's face it. The really important questions, that you as a developer need to consider, are . . .
Is open source the best fast-time-to-market solution?
Is it truly the least expensive approach?
Is it really the best software?
Wind River invested over $50M in software development in 1999 and continues at that rate, with over 500 software developers dedicated to the effort. We are the experts, and we understand what embedded developers need. We see POS, ATM, Industrial PC, and Internet Appliance applications as opportunities where Linux can replace DOS and Windows NT. We embrace open source and are evaluating Linux as an OS option for Wind River customers. We are prototyping solutions based on Linux, now.
Ready (MontaVista) -- As the cofounder of the world's first proprietary RTOS company (Hunter & Ready; VRTX), and now the founder of MontaVista Software, I strongly believe that wave of the future is 100% pure Linux -- royalty free, and open source. My goal with MontaVista is to take Linux where VRTX went, generating income from support and subscriptions, not from royalties.
Next came the audience Q&A session . . .
Q: Member of audience -- How can a company make money if it gives away its product?
A: Ready -- Of course we need income. But we just don't get it from royalties. Instead, we sell subscriptions to our customers, based on how many developers are working with the product we supply, and on what level of responsiveness they require.
A: Tiemann -- In reality, complex customer relationships are not readily represented by royalties, anyway.
A: Chouinard -- If you do the work, you should get the money for it.
Q: Member of audience -- How will I eat, if I write open source code?
A: Tiemann -- Red Hat will hire you!
A: Ready -- MontaVista, too!
Q: Member of audience -- What is the incentive to perfect/improve your open source code, if you don't get paid to do it?
A: Ready -- Don't forget, not everything associated with an open source kernel (e.g. Linux) must itself be open source. There are also tools, which can be licensed and proprietary.
A: Gatlif -- When you contribute to the open source pool, you get back from that community in many ways. For one thing, you're likely to receive bug reports. Also, of course, you get to take advantage of open source from the pool.
Q: Member of audience -- Would Microsoft lose any competitive advantage if they published their source?
A: Chouinard -- Face it: it's cheaper to file a bug report (and have us fix it) than fix it yourself. We hold a lot of patents and copyrights that restrict what can be done with our source. Incidentally, we do make a policy of providing source to device drivers, where there isn't the intellectual property issue to be concerned about.
Q: Member of audience -- Does the publishing of source code force developers to meet a higher standard (because the whole world can study what you've done)?
A: Tiemann -- Absolutely!
Editor's conclusion . . .
All in all, the audience seemed relatively confused and uncertain about the definition and benefits of open source software -- both before and after the session. Neither the moderator nor the panelists were very crisp at communicating the key issues or their positions on them. Instead, the session quickly degenerated into a couple of hours of marketing hype and mud-slinging, with opposing sides taking sharply worded pot shots at each other.
Maybe at the next ESC, we could have a more focused debate. Hey, how about a pair of two-person teams, with well thought-out positions, judged by a panel composed of members of the press? In short: a real opportunity to debate the significant issues of open vs. proprietary software.
See you next ESC!
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed