🚀 go-pugleaf

Pavel Cisar wrote:

> - doesn't provide paid support for free version

This is not true. We DO provide paid support for the free version. All
you have to do is *pay*. If you compile and use InterBase 6 Open
Edition and you wish to buy support for it, we will support you.
Please note, compiling the IB6 Open Edition is outside the area of
expertise of InterBase support; we don't know how to do it, so we
don't claim to support doing it.

> - doesn't provide "certified", paid product with no strings
> attached (deployment license), i.e. has only free version with
> no support and "who will use it shall be doomed" at one side,
> and very expensive, only one supported version on another end.

No, we offer *free* product with "no strings attached". If you need
support you have to buy it, just like any other product. Once again
you claim that you cannot buy support for the open source version. If
you bychance know the source of this incorrect rumor I would I like to
see about getting the information corrected ASAP.

> - doesn't cooperate with users (community) to improve its
> core product.

Well, yeah, I'll agree that Borland has been dog slow about involving
the community. This is one area that we are figuring out, but it's not
there yet.

> - doesn't operate in open environment under public scrutiny
> (don't mention Borland's area at  SourceForge, it's dead in
> comparision to Firebird).

Borland offers the source code for InterBase at SourceForge. That code
is being updated. Personally, I understand where one could take issue
with SourceForge as a code repository.

> - utilize spin doctors and damage control engineers whenever is
> criticized for its lack of openess and honesty in communication,
> or is criticized at all (I don't account that to the low-level
> staff, they are conditioned and ordered to behave that way).

Which of these things do you accuse me of being? Am I just a symbol of
Borland? Or do you allow for the possibility that I'm actually a real
person? Because if you don't, I am not going to come here just to be a
target for you to snipe at. If you wish to talk to me that's great. If
you are here to fence with a "spin doctor" or a "damage control
engineer" then I am going to spend my time some other way.

<snip>
 
> Ok, Borland has right to operate that way, and there is nothing
> wrong with it. BUT DON'T TELL US THAT IT'S OPEN SOURCE ! Please,
> learn about WHAT IS open source and what rules this game has,
> before you'll defend Borland's steps re. OS.


The InterBase open source project may not be what *you* think an open
source project should be, but it *is* open source. If you really think
InterBase is not open source, show me some cites to back up your
claims. I have a fair understanding of what open source is, and I am
open to any information you bring to the discussion.

One of the elements of a successful open source project is what Eric
Raymond called the "benevolent dictator", someone to guide the project
and provide direction. In the case of Linux, it was Linus Torvalds.
For Fetchmail it was Eric Raymond. In the case of InterBase, Borland
is acting as the "benevolent dictator." It makes sense because Borland
already pays a bunch of money to have InterBase developed and QA'ed
full time. If what you really object to is that Borland is still in
charge of the InterBase open source project, InterBase Open Edition,
then I cannot help you; Borland is in charge of Interbase and we are
not going to walk away from it. I agree that community involvement in
the project has gotten of to a glacial start, but even glaciers move,
given time.

Ben
-- 
InterBase Technical Support
Borland Software Corp.

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