Google and CodeWeavers are working together to bring Google's popular Windows Picasa photo editing and sharing program to Linux. The program is now in a limited beta test. If this program is successful, other Google applications will be following it to the Linux desktop, sources say. The Linux Picasa implementation includes the full feature set of the Windows Picasa 2.x software. It is not, strictly speaking, a port of Picasa to Linux. Instead, Linux Picasa combines Windows Picasa code and Wine technology to run Windows Picasa on Linux. This, however, will be transparent to Linux users, when they download, install, and run the free program on their systems.
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Member since:2005-11-14
That is just BS. We are not quite there yet. There is absolutely no support for "open source is the only choice" statements
We won't ever be there as long as people like you go on supporting the other option (staying screwed).
I remember people were saying the same things for a lot of Linux components in 1999. We're far past expectations on all accounts (except drivers). And you are saying BS like I will show you.
I fear for the future of OSS if this is the motto of the movement. Programmers are a finite resource, good ones even more so
This is not the motto of OSS, OSS does not even have a motto, as they want to remove every political statement that you find in Free Software. Your programmer's rant has nothing to do with the problem.
Simply open sourcing everthing will not make everything better, there are not enough programmers willing to work for free in thier free time to make everything better
What you say is pure BS. The fact is that lots of FOSS programmers are ready to port these apps to Linux as soon as the code is made FOSS compatible.
You can't guarantee that releasing source will attract developers, you can't guarantee that opening a project will cause any improvement in it's quality, you can't guarantee that the community won't just fork the project and leave you in the dust with you specific business needs unfullfilled
No we can't guarantee of course, and as long as you don't do it, we sure can't know.
And the quality of the program will improve as soon as it is ported, because it will then be native.
And I don't see how it will leave Google in the dust, this is just stupid, as they want to spread the thing.
There are not enough garantees yet for big businesses to go that route. The companies named have a vested interest in the success of the Linux desktop, of couse they want thier apps to be GPL compatable. We may get there someday, but we are not there yet
That's why some ask for the source, stupid. This is no problem for Google.
Depending on your circumstances open sourcing may even mean death for a small company with many competitors. I happen to enjoy my FREEDOM to choose whether I want to share my hard work with the rest of the world
Open sourcing Picasa and Google Earth won't be the death of Google, you must be kidding.
You have the freedom to do whatever you want, we have the freedom to ask/beg for sth. I don't understand where your problem is.
I support the open source community, but this sort of elitist crap will kill it. You should be promoting the benefits of open source, not spreading closed source FUD
Asking for a native app is "elitist" ? You are the elitist one who try to kill FOSS.
I thought the benefit of FOSS was clear : if Google don't want to do the native app, the community will do it as long as they have the code. So people at least ask for the code (instead of the pirating so common with proprietary software). Do you understand now ? What is elitist about that ?
Member since:2005-06-30
Those were very nice replys that apply very well to popular programs by big companies with enough captial to take a risk. Nothing you said supports the notion of "Open source is no longuer a choice , you either use it or your company fail" That in fact is elitist. They offer free beer, you turn it down because its not your fav brand.
The fact is that lots of FOSS programmers are ready to port these apps to Linux as soon as the code is made FOSS compatible.
That may be true of the mainstream/popular apps but is it true for the lesser known and specific apps. Where will this army of coders be when I GPL my prorientary, in-house developed program? I bet I would be overwhelmed by the volume of bug fixes and public contributions I get. What happens when someone undercuts me by offering to support that app for less than me because he has not invested any r&d time/money into it and does not have a vested interest in it's success.
We won't ever be there as long as people like you go on supporting the other option (staying screwed).
None of my clients feel that they are screwed by my work not being open source. They are more than happy to pay for my work and I am more than happy to add things they want to it. I think you are confusuing open standards with open software. No one is screwed because MS office is proprientary, they are screwed becuase the files it outputs are proprietary. Standards NEED to be open, prop outputs will be the death of companies not prop software. Whether Picasa is open or not, you are not locked in to using it, and therefore not screwed.
Open sourcing Picasa and Google Earth won't be the death of Google, you must be kidding.
I repeat: Depending on your circumstances.........
Member since:2005-07-06
"That is just BS."
No , thats 100% knowledge and education , unlike some people I know whats the difference between Open Source and Free software , and your discussing free software.
"We are not quite there yet."
Open Source as been around and exploited since the creation of all IT.
"There is absolutely no support for "open source is the only choice" statements."
Microsoft , Apple and Adobe are doing it ...
"Programmers are a finite resource, good ones even more so. "
That I have to agree with. But license and programming skills are two different things.
"Simply open sourcing everthing will not make everything better"
Actually in reality it does , because real Open Source you get thousnad of participant who are going to contribute.
"there are not enough programmers willing to work for free in thier free time to make everything better."
Actually it does , GNU/Linux as a ratio of 10-90 for the free developper who are not paid , but then again OPen Source and Free software is not about doing everything for no cost at all.
"You can't guarantee that releasing source will attract developers"
I have to agree , but like everything its a case by case , people in the community have been asking for Picasa to be ported for GNU/Linux.
"you can't guarantee that the community won't just fork the project and leave you in the dust with you specific business needs unfullfilled. "
If your motive is gouging the community there is a 100% chance of that , if your communicative and open with the community it as a tendancy to stay loyal , look at Google.
"There are not enough garantees yet for big businesses to go that route. "
All the big business are already doing it in one way or another.
"The companies named have a vested interest in the success of the Linux desktop"
Google ? yes ok , if you forget that none of there software run on GNU/Linux.
"want thier apps to be GPL compatable."
Thats what I mean when I said you dont know the difference between OSS and Free Software , thats Free Software and as nothing to do with Open Source exept as one of its quality.
"Depending on your circumstances open sourcing may even mean death for a small company with many competitors."
I have to agree , Open Source as many traitor license that can be used to take and not give back anything , but I dont see Google disapear over Picasa.
"I happen to enjoy my FREEDOM to choose whether I want to share my hard work with the rest of the world."
Thats not freedom thats choice.
"I support the open source community"
No , you dont even know who and what it is.
"but this sort of elitist crap will kill it."
No its f--king thief liar and traitor such as yourself.
"You should be promoting the benefits of open source"
No , Open Source alone is crap , because thief , liar and traitor such as yourself can choose to CLOSE it to all others.
"not spreading closed source FUD."
Since you wrote about it I am inclined to think that you do. I whas more in line with dont know what the hell he is talking about.
Member since:2005-06-30
"Open Source as been around and exploited since the creation of all IT."
That has nothing to do with the discussion.
"Microsoft , Apple and Adobe are doing it ..."
In an experimental capacity not related to any mojor revenue stream.
"Actually in reality it does , because real Open Source you get thousnad of participant who are going to contribute."
A baseless and empty promise, every project on sourceforge does not have 1000s of contributors. Most are lucky to have two.
"If your motive is gouging the community there is a 100% chance of that , if your communicative and open with the community it as a tendancy to stay loyal , look at Google."
Unsopported and unprovable. Would company that is unpopular with your movement (such as Microsoft) enjoy that same loyalty?
"All the big business are already doing it in one way or another."
see earlier comment experimentation does not constitute commitment or active involvement
"Google ? yes ok , if you forget that none of there software run on GNU/Linux."
I wasn't refering to Google. I was replying to "Novell , SUN , and many other"
"Thats what I mean when I said you dont know the difference between OSS and Free Software , thats Free Software and as nothing to do with Open Source exept as one of its quality."
You'll have to excuse the error.
"I have to agree , Open Source as many traitor license that can be used to take and not give back anything , but I dont see Google disapear over Picasa."
Thats why I said SMALL COMPANY. Not all closed software is made by mega corporations, not even most of it.
"Thats not freedom thats choice."
Freedom is also the right to choose. That is what your original statement seeks to destroy.
"No , you dont even know who and what it is."
And you have a warped view of it's capacity.
"No its f--king thief liar and traitor such as yourself."
Oh boy, here come the personal attacks and name calling. I almost forgot I was talking to a friendly member of the FOSS community. Thief? I have never stolen software or code in my life.
"No , Open Source alone is crap , because thief , liar and traitor such as yourself can choose to CLOSE it to all others."
Typical. You have no inherant human right to share my work or property. I have no civic duty to share it with you. You are FREE to not use my software if you do not agree with my terms for its use and modification. I guess your community's labeling as communists is accurate.
You began your orginal reply with a personal attack, you peppered this one with them, you have no provable basis for your claims. Open source is only one of many choices, and it has yet to be difinitively proven to be the best. FOSS is not the only answer.
Member since:
2005-06-30
"I guess when you grow up and actually get a job you will see that Open source is no longuer a choice , you either use it or your company fail , thats what Novell , SUN , and many others have learned"
That is just BS. We are not quite there yet. There is absolutely no support for "open source is the only choice" statements. I fear for the future of OSS if this is the motto of the movement. Programmers are a finite resource, good ones even more so. Simply open sourcing everthing will not make everything better, there are not enough programmers willing to work for free in thier free time to make everything better. You can't guarantee that releasing source will attract developers, you can't guarantee that opening a project will cause any improvement in it's quality, you can't guarantee that the community won't just fork the project and leave you in the dust with you specific business needs unfullfilled. There are not enough garantees yet for big businesses to go that route. The companies named have a vested interest in the success of the Linux desktop, of couse they want thier apps to be GPL compatable. We may get there someday, but we are not there yet.
Depending on your circumstances open sourcing may even mean death for a small company with many competitors. I happen to enjoy my FREEDOM to choose whether I want to share my hard work with the rest of the world. I support the open source community, but this sort of elitist crap will kill it. You should be promoting the benefits of open source, not spreading closed source FUD.