Will the Next Generation Internet Still Depend on Open Source?

1. Will the Next Generation Internet Still Depend on Open Source? Fred Baker Gadfly at large

2. Key internet developments DDN internet suite - won by ubiquity Bind - specification for DNS Sendmail - common mailer Majordomo - the other mailer MRTG - common SNMP monitor Kerberos - key exchange Key software contributions gcc - the common c/c++ compiler Linux - open source operating system The only real foil to Windows today Let's celebrate a little Open Source Conference 2001

3. The copyleft principle • “Software should be free” • But that has not been consistent with reality • Consumer markets • Support costs Open Source Conference 2001

4. What has happened to that software? • TCP/IP now a product from many sources • Acceptance of changes is measured by whether they are in windows, not FreeBSD or Linux • Although Linux is a good second player • Bind - product of Vixie Enterprises • Kerberos - incorporated into Windows (gack!) • gcc - maintained by Cygnus for years • From corporate perspective, essentially a product of Cygnus • Linux - Red Hat, etc... Open Source Conference 2001

5. Why did that happen? • Evil greedy persons • They will try to make money… • Great products need more than code that can be downloaded • Users need reliable support • Neophytes can’t be expected to change code • Delivery vehicles have to be shrink-wrapped for consumer audience • Feature sets fossilize over time • Eventually software does “the right thing” • Folks start relying on it to be stable Open Source Conference 2001

6. What if... • Open source is a good way to get the right features quickly • Managed development/ownership is the way to a quality product Open Source Conference 2001

7. What is software development about? • It's about getting the right features • It's about delivering a product • It’s about getting good documentation • It's about predictable quality • It's about ISO 9001? Open Source Conference 2001

8. It's about getting the right features • Open source can be good for this • Quick bug fixes • Quick new features • Community can accept what is useful • What about consumer markets? • Does your grandmother participate in open source development? • She uses your products without your expertise Open Source Conference 2001

9. It's about delivering a product • Consumers have different requirements than engineers and researchers • Intellectual property puts food on the table • Ultimately, support costs drive it to a capitalist model • Intellectual property defends against competitors • Many companies make significant income by claiming origination of ideas Open Source Conference 2001

10. It’s about getting good documentation • Readable by mere mortals • Translated into various languages • Applicable to user needs Open Source Conference 2001

11. It's about predictable quality • Patched up code looks like a patchwork • How many times have you rewritten code rather than commit a patch mailed in? • Process control allows for stable products • Someone needs to be in the driver's seat Open Source Conference 2001

12. It's about ISO 9001? • Corporate customers demand documentation of processes • This is a source of a great deal of mindlessness • Also a source of control of product Open Source Conference 2001

13. Open source in the 21st century • Exploration • Partnership Open Source Conference 2001

14. Open source exploration • Open source has been an effective vehicle for • Rapid prototyping • Exploratory code development • Trying out ideas • It will continue to be that Open Source Conference 2001

15. Partnership with commercial world • Industry frequently depends on open source products • Therefore open source must be willing to see products develop into commercial ventures • Expect more open source concepts to migrate into proprietary products Open Source Conference 2001