J.P. -
try
opensource.org
I just looked there, works for me.
This is a very interesting document. It was not written by Gates or anyone in senior management, it was written by a developer/analyst in Allchin's organization. It is not a diatribe, it is a well-reasoned analysis, from the MSFT perspective, of the OSS process, with Linux as an example. Whoever wrote it is smart and knowledgeable although obviously somewhat biased to the MSFT view of the world.
Aside from the view into MSFT culture, which is consistent with my experience, this document also shows why MSFT wins so often - although many in the OSS crowd also decry the acceptance of business practices which the academic types think are unfair.
I have a lot of respect for the OSS community and the principles that they espouse, and I hope that they are able to continue develop their paradigm. There are valuable lessons to be learned, and the creation of a free-wheeling innovative development environment capable of tackling large software projects is a breath of fresh air.
But the fact remains that the development of commercial software as represented by MSFT, Oracle, IBM, Sun and others is a completely different game. Discussing the role of FUD is not evidence of a deep-rooted malignancy, it is an everyday fact of life for everyone in the industry, as are vaporware, pre-emptive strikes, and the dubious role of standards. Whether you embrace these tactics or abhor them, you must thoroughly understand them to be successful in the software business on any large scale. |
