On Tuesday 09 October 2007 13:44, darko g wrote:
On 10/9/07, Stefan Hundhammer
wrote: We've been through times. Times where we had to produce an insane amount of small products of questionable value for the customer each quarter -- just to avoid getting broke again. Those times are over. Thanks to being owned by a company that has a vision (and no longer by investment banks whose sole vision are next quarter's figures).
FWIS, the vision is to sell identity and security software products to enterprises while using the SUSE brand name and Linux as the marketing bandwagon. Not that there is anything wrong with that vision as long as they keep diverting funds into the OpenSUSE project, but just stating, lets be honest about what the vision is.
AFAICS that is one vision from many. Yes, Novell wants to make money. Of
course. All corporations do. And yes, Novell discovered Linux and Open Source
as one way to make money. There is nothing wrong with that, neither legally
nor morally. Linux wouldn't be where it is today if it weren't for all those
corporations paying developers to contribute. Not even Open Source developers
can live on fresh air alone. ;-)
Yes, parts of Linux and Open Source in general are being developed by unpaid
students in universities. But other parts are not. And those are paid for by
corporations that of course expect some value in return; something to make
money with. It's all about giving and taking. The company giveth, and the
company also receiveth. ;-)
So far, I'd say the community got its fair share. openSUSE as a community
project would not exist if it hadn't been for Novell management to allocate
the funds for constantly ongoing (!) involvement.
Another 0.02€ (and running out of small coins quickly...)
--
Stefan Hundhammer