__/ [ Mark Kent ] on Wednesday 31 May 2006 08:43 \__
> begin oe_protect.scr
> Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
>> __/ [ Mark Kent ] on Tuesday 30 May 2006 19:57 \__
>>
>>> begin oe_protect.scr
>>> Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
>>>> Gartner Says Worldwide Relational Database Market Increased 8 Percent in
>>>> 2005
>>>>
>>>> ,----[ Quote ]
>>>>| Linux grew the fastest of all the RDBMS platforms (84 percent),
>>>>| driven primarily by Oracle, and the maturation and user acceptance of
>>>>| the Linux platform as a mission-critical DBMS platform.
>>>> `----
>>>>
>>>> http://www.moneyweb.co.za/business_today/456007.htm
>>>
>>> Hmm, 84% growth. I don't think I've ever seen a figure like that...
>>
>> Oracle are changing or revamping their appliances to include Linux. They
>> are
>> responsible for many back rooms in many different companies. What they
>> give in return is a separate question altogether. They recently unleashed
>> an Open Source Ajax toolkit.
>>
>
> I would think that they're in a similar position to most software-only
> vendors, in that free software is looming on the horizon. I expect that
> most database jobs can be done by mysql or postgresql, sometimes even a
> gnumeric spreadsheet might be enough... for the really top-end stuff,
> it's so specialist that it's probably all bespoke, like Google, say.
> Oracle are caught between hammer and anvil. That said, they do not have
> the history of some proprietary companies, and could probably complete
> their transition to an open working approach.
I believe that Ellison started Oracle when working for some governmental
project. You could look up his bio for a more precise background on the
formation of Oracle, but its roots make a transition to Open Source somewhat
natural. Microsoft manifestation involved, if I recall correctly, the idea
that people should be able to *hide* code in order to motivate developers to
make high-quality programs (rather than share source). Again, I am not
phrasing this as well as I could (just typing as my mind goes along), but I
hope it conveys the principal idea(s).
I dare say that if Ellison (hypothetically) took Red Hat under its wing
without hurting the Fedora project, there would not be losses all around. I
worry, however, about companies like MySQL, which Oracle once wanted to
'absorb'. Oracle introduced BerkeleyDB, which is Open Source, so they seem
to be going in a similar direction, realising that closed-source software
will die.
Best wishes,
Roy
PS - allow me to add a(n admittedly rough) quote:
Oracle: Linux adoption is to accelerate (March 2006-ish)
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | GPL'd 3-D Othello: http://othellomaster.com
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