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Source + Sun
Will Oracle Ditch Sun’s Open-Source Commitments?
[...] OpenSuSE Community Manager and former Linux Foundation evangelist, Joe Brockmeier of Novell, wrote to eWEEK. In his email he stated. So far, Oracle has been fairly quiet about its intentions regarding Sun 's open-source projects. given Oracle's history in open source, I'm sceptical that the company would continue the same level of involvement in promoting open source that Sun has pursued. . [...] In the next few months, I don't think much is going to change. However, I don't see Oracle continuing OpenSolaris as actively as Sun has, and I'm not sure how this would affect Java. I would like to think that Oracle would continue moving Java forward as an open-source project, but for the most part, Oracle has largely been a participant in FOSS (free and open-source software) projects where it suits the company's interests and not so much a leader in FOSS. . [...] High-visibility, open-source projects such as MySQL, Java, OpenSolaris, GlassFish [...] the weeks following the announcement of the acquisition, which is due to close in the summer of 2009. But not much has been said about a dozen or so smaller open-source projects (see list on the next page) hatching at Sun Labs, projects that could very well one day grow up to be a Java or MySQL. [...]
Sun Open Source Chief Leaves Oracle To Join OSI
[...] Phipps joins the Open Source Initiative (OSI), an organisation which promotes open source, holding the open source definition and approving new open source licences. After a successful few years at Sun, some observers are already predicting he may liven things up at OSI, which has a somewhat staid reputation. [...] As Oracle cemented its purchase of Sun last week, the head of open source at Sun left to take up a post at the Open Source Initiative. [...] Simon Phipps, who spent ten years at Sun Microsystems and five as chief open source officer, announced last week that he would leave the company - just as Oracle launched a renewed bid to reassure Sun customers that Sun's products and strategies were safe in its new owner's hands. [...]
If IBM Swallows Sun, Open-Source Is The Winner
[...] As the steward of Sun's StarOffice, IBM could seed the open-source community while reserving for itself the freedom to cut separate licensing arrangements. In fact, this dual-licensing option is a thread that runs through almost all of Sun's open-source holdings, including MySQL and Java. [...] There is a lot of overlap for IBM and Sun in the areas of open source and operating systems - but that could actually be a good thing, given IBM's ability to build business on the open source model. [...] Too much overlap, and the deal doesn't make sense. The conventional wisdom here seems reasonable enough, but we must pay attention to the way that open-source development and licensing models&mdash.to which both Sun and IBM adhere for a significant portion of their strategies&mdash. [...]
Why Microsoft Can’t Afford To Let Novell Die
[...] That's not a great position to be in, and the open source chief at Sun couldn't resist a swift jibe on his blog. Seems even with Microsoft's support Novell couldn't cut it. A remark that looks ill-judged, given that Sun itself couldn't survive on its own, and Phipps may find that his company's new owner, Oracle, has misgivings about open source. [...] Novell has been struggling for fifteen years to find a coherent role, having abandoned its effort to destroy Micrsoft in head-on competition. In the last few years, after its successful purchase of SUSE and Ximian in 2003, it has been a leading player in open source - albeit one whose credibility is tainted for some by its support deal with Microsoft. [...] This week, Elliot Associates, a hedge fund, offered to buy Novell. The offer signals a bid to break up the company, and could be extremely bad news for open source & and also for Microsoft. [...]
Will Oracle Ditch Sun’s Open-Source Commitments?
[...] It seems the company is willing to contribute where it's absolutely necessary, but it's also not interested in doing some of the long-range heavy lifting that many FOSS vendors do to move open-source forward, Brockmeier said. Maybe an infusion of Sun DNA will encourage Oracle to step up and be a more active player in FOSS. [...] IBM buying Sun seemed like a mixed bag, but likely a net positive for the community. I think there's some scepticism that Oracle will step up and become a more active FOSS contributor, but one hopes that Sun's FOSS commitments will live on after the deal, Brockmeier said. [...] Here is a list of open-source projects currently in development at Sun. [...]
Sun Discusses Future Of MySQL
[...] As analysts debate just how the open-source MySQL database will fit into the Oracle portfolio, Sun Microsystems offered a sneak peak at MySQL 5.4, which brings a series of improvements around performance and scalability. [...] It has been an eventful 24 hours for MySQL fans, as the news that Oracle would acquire Sun triggered speculation about Oracle's plans for its open-source rival. [...] To speed queries, Sun is utilising new query algorithms that leverage main memory to improve the execution time of multiway joins. This is particularly true for MySQL Cluster, since it reduces the number of round trips between the server and cluster nodes, Sun officials said. [...]
EC Schedules Sun Oracle Hearing For 25 November
[...] The regulators did not contest the Sun acquisition of MySQL because Sun is not primarily a database company. However, the EC does contend that there is a major conflict of interest in the world's largest commercial database company, Oracle, owning its largest open-source competitor. [...] The Division concluded & that consumer harm is unlikely because customers would continue to have choices from a variety of well-established and widely accepted database products. The department also concluded that there is a large community of developers and users of Sun's open-source database with significant expertise in maintaining and improving the software, and who could support a derivative version of it. . [...] I think the European Commission's opposition to the Merger is fantastic. They really have their homework done here. The dogs on the street know that the acquisition of Sun by Oracle is going to undermine MySQL. Sun is very important to open source and showed strong leadership. [...]
Oracle Will Dim The Lights Of Sun
[...] After McNealy abdicated the chief executive's chair to be only chairman, CEO Jonathan Schwartz stepped into the anti-Microsoft limelight. But the colour of Sun's light changed. During Schwartz's tenure, Sun courted and embraced open-source developers, releasing Solaris to open source as OpenSolaris, bolstering its commitment to OpenOffice development and, in January 2008, acquiring MySQL. [...] Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer finally has something to thank Ellison for. Perhaps he should send flowers and a card. For all the enmity generated by McNealy for Microsoft and Gates, the sale to Sun is a precious gift&mdash.given suddenly, unexpectedly. For Microsoft, Oracle's Sun acquisition is potentially a huge victory over open source. [...] IBM commands customer respect and delivers great service. Increased IBM support for Sun open-source projects could only have been bad for Microsoft. [...]
EC Has ‘Incorrect’ Facts Concerning Oracle-Sun Case
[...] A legal expert on open source software has lent his support to the planned merger of Oracle Corp and Sun Microsystems in a letter to the European Commission. But his views are not proving popular in some circles. [...] An open source legal expert has informed the European Commission that its concerns about Oracle's takeover of Sun are based on incorrect assertions. [...] You are here. Home News Open Source EC Has Incorrect' Facts Concerning Oracle-Sun Case. [...]
EC Compromise Allows Mandelson Net Cut-Off Plan
[...] Sun Open Source Chief Leaves Oracle To Join OSI. [...]
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