Comments on: Google supports google-API based Open Source http://www.opensourcemovement.org/2005/03/17/google-supports-google-api-based-open-source/ welcome to the digital renaissance Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:12:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Vulgrin http://www.opensourcemovement.org/2005/03/17/google-supports-google-api-based-open-source/#comment-2 Vulgrin Mon, 21 Mar 2005 18:34:23 +0000 http://www.opensourcemovement.org/2005/03/17/google-supports-google-api-based-open-source/#comment-2 This is the kind of thing that will deliniate "good" companies in the future. Even if Linux never achieves a 51% market share for its desktop, the power of Open Source has still caught on in these more subtle ways. The deal is, Google's not stupid. Like IBM and others, they realize that there are a lot of warm bodies out there that will do development for development's sake, and understand the concept of "the greater good." The progressive companies are learning how to tap into that market, not only for goodwill and popularity, but because it will help their bottom lines. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues, or if something happens to upset the balance. What happens the first time one of these companies gets too greedy, and grabs the licenses back? What happens when the developers who are passionate about this lifestyle burn out or get too busy with paying jobs? Of course, the real issues are much more complex, and I think that anyone making predictions now doesn't have a chance to be right. Who would have predicted Linux to be where it is today, 10 years ago? This is the kind of thing that will deliniate “good” companies in the future. Even if Linux never achieves a 51% market share for its desktop, the power of Open Source has still caught on in these more subtle ways.

The deal is, Google’s not stupid. Like IBM and others, they realize that there are a lot of warm bodies out there that will do development for development’s sake, and understand the concept of “the greater good.” The progressive companies are learning how to tap into that market, not only for goodwill and popularity, but because it will help their bottom lines.

It will be interesting to see if that trend continues, or if something happens to upset the balance. What happens the first time one of these companies gets too greedy, and grabs the licenses back? What happens when the developers who are passionate about this lifestyle burn out or get too busy with paying jobs?

Of course, the real issues are much more complex, and I think that anyone making predictions now doesn’t have a chance to be right. Who would have predicted Linux to be where it is today, 10 years ago?

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