This Question has been there for many year's now and most of the people will agree on this, that Open Source Environment as the most disruptive force in technology. With chain of events happening over the past month it seems we are inching closer to it.
First Sun Microsystems Announces Agreement to Acquire MySQL, Developer of the World's Most Popular Open Source Database for approximately $1 billion. Follow this with news from Microsoft that it would provide access to documentation for its major software products, including Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007.
Let's first take Suns move of acquiring MySQL.
Called the largest open-source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP open-source software stack. It reaffirms Sun's position as the leading provider of platforms for the Web economy and its role as the largest commercial open source contributor.
This acquisition accelerates Sun's position in enterprise IT to now include the $15 billion database market. Sun's strategic partners Facebook, Google, Nokia, and China Mobile will bring synergies that will change the landscape of the software industry and that will allow MySQL Open Source Database to grow more rapidly with its new adoptions in more traditional applications and enterprises. The complementary product with MySQL's database are expected to bring new markets for Sun's systems, virtualization, middleware and storage platforms.
Sun has been involved in the development of the rival open-source database, PostgreSQL, this acquisition will raise some questions over its future . Although Sun for now shows commitment to reaffirm its commitment to PostgreSQL.
Another important fact worth mentioning is that Oracle is as also one of the strategic partners of Sun for years. MySQL is one of the most competitive and threats to Oracle Corp., just because it's cheaper, and in many applications, more practical. What it means by bringing two rivals together is weakness of one would be used as a strength of other and bringing in fruitful results for both. Which means for lower-tier database applications, MySQL can offer the core functionality and with the advanced features list Oracle could serve the needs as it continues to have the edge over MySQL in this field.
Let's Now take a look at Microsoft's interoperability promise
It seems as an acknowledgment that Microsoft can't ignore the open-source community's impact on its business and prominence in the industry any longer.With its move to provide access to documentation for its major software products, including Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007, it could repair its tarnished reputation in the technology industry and help the company get out of its own way to compete more effectively with Google.
Microsoft has been anti-Open Source for a long time but this sudden change in mood is certainly attributed to the growing trend and wide spreed adoption of Open Environment . Now what one can look forward from this move is an restrained access to Microsoft APIs and some interfering from Microsoft.
Some of the restrictions one could expect to see are, one might require license or developer id from making any changes to Microsoft Products and these IDs would be offered at some suitable registering cost. Another restriction could be developers won't be allowed to share there changes openly, which means one has to first submit modified product to Microsoft which will then finally be offered to customers under the label of Microsoft.
If one looks from the point of view of intellectual knowledge which the Microsoft's product will bring to open market these restrictions might seem worth to be under.
Moral of the Story is Open Source will rule the world one day.................
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