COMMENTARY
JASON BROOKS
Open source’s next steps
Microsoft’s deals with China needn’t deter open-source backers
Last month, fortune magazine up its source code for review, literal one, as the Windows
ran an interesting article accept an average $7 of revenue platform boasts a decentral-about how Microsoft per PC (versus $100 to $200 ized network of individuals
got its groove on in the apiece elsewhere), look the and businesses that ranges
massive Chinese market other way on software piracy from back-alley Windows
by striking deals with and participate in China’s bootleggers to large ISVs
China’s government and how efforts to curb online dissent. and OEMs, with a packed
Microsoft’s success in China It’s tempting to focus on spectrum of other distribu-appears to be coming at the major deals such as these tion and service providers in
expense of Linux and open- as potential game-changing between. Microsoft’s deals
source software. events. However, massive top- with the Chinese govern-
The Fortune article down initiatives aren’t what ment aren’t built to extend
points specifically to drive adoption of new plat- the reach of Windows in
China’s homegrown Red forms and standards, and this China but to defend that
Flag Linux distribution, but
when I read the story, my
thoughts turned instead to
Sun Microsystems’ ill-fated The road ahead must
deal with the Chinese gov- hearken back to open
ernment to deploy as many
as 200 million Linux-based source’s principles.
PCs in the country. The
deal promised to be a major
coup for Linux and for Sun, will continue to hold true for reach from open-source
and then-Sun chief Scott Linux and open source. The encroachment.
McNealy noted that the road ahead must hearken back An increasing number
agreement would make Sun to the founding principles of of large IT vendors have
the world’s largest Linux open source. thrown their support behind
player. Instead, Sun chose The Eric Raymond essay, open source. But, for Linux
to change course relatively “The Cathedral and the and open source really to
quickly, dropping its Linux- Bazaar” describes the power break into the mainstream,
based JDS (Java Desktop that software projects can a much broader set of stake-System) as a product alto- draw from the decentralized holders must recognize and
gether and getting back to contributor communities that figure out how best to seize
work on Solaris. collect around popular open- the opportunity to redirect
Even if Sun hadn’t ditched source applications, and the license fee dollars into their
its desktop ambitions, Micro- robustness of projects such own pockets. ´
soft was ready to make the as Linux and Firefox demon-
Chinese government an offer strate Raymond’s thesis. e WEEK Labs Executive Editor
it wouldn’t want to refuse. However, the bazaar that Jason Brooks is at jason.
Microsoft agreed to pony Microsoft still rules is the brooks@ziffdavisenterprise.com.
