Gartner's predictions for Linux and open source (ZDNet) [LWN.net]

The Gartner Group reviews a 1999 pronouncement on Linux and looks forward in this ZDNet article. "Today, the Open Source Software (OSS) community has demonstrated that it can organize itself into selective peer groups with responsibility as the "maintainer" for the ongoing development and leadership of kernel and applications. How far up the "food chain" this process applies has still not been proven. We know it works well at the infrastructure (such as load balancing, caching, Domain Naming System, Secure Sockets Layer acceleration), with Web services (such as Apache) and at the plumbing level. We have seen some progress in databases (such as MySQL), but the process is still inconclusive with regard to high-availability clustering, system management and transaction middleware."

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Gartner's predictions for Linux and open source (ZDNet)

Posted Jul 25, 2002 14:56 UTC (Thu) by leandro (subscriber, #1460) [Link]

We have seen some progress in databases (such as MySQL), but the process is still inconclusive with regard to high-availability clustering, system management and transaction middleware.

Interesting how ignorance have a way of revealing itself… by evaluating MySQL, a pseudo-SQL quasi-DBMS file access library, instead of a full-fledged SQL DBMS such as PostgreSQL, Interbase or SAPdb, they can say “some progress in databases” instead of “full success in full-fledged DBMSs” as it should, and also keep speaking about “selective peer groups” conveniently forgetting companies also do create and maintain free software.

Also, “the process is still inconclusive” because it's never finished. Proprietary software also doesn't fulfill every need; why free software, with much less financial resources, mindshare and focus, would be so much farther away in the process? There will be people doing free “high-availability clustering, system management and transaction middleware” when it's needed.