Is Open Source Really Just as Good? A rebuttal

Michael Jung has written a blog about Open Source and is it good enough, especially from a Venture Capitalists point of view and those who look for that next big thing. But one thing you will note, there is a lot of FUD(Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) in his questionings. But let's take it one step at a time.

What’s the ecosystem that they’re trying to build?

Now let's take this first question. My first question is: who cares? I mean, when Linus Torvalds decided to Open Source the kernel of Linux, did he decide to design an ecosystem? Not hardly, but he did want to solve one problem: having other people contribute to the problem as a team where he might be weakest.

Will there be lots of people who will know (or want to know) how to work with the technology?

Again, my first impression: who cares? Normally the "Next Big Thing" are for those that have a nose for the future and even then they may not be right most of the time. We don't have a good idea of what the future holds for us especially in technology. Who would have thought that Open Source software would have has such an impact today compared with 10 years ago. Look at the history of technology and you'll see the technology dinosauers that have been killed off, and even some that remain, and notice that most people are wrong about the demise of them.

Are there vendors who can provide great support?

Again, I say: who cares? In this case, the business that is buying it cares, but the ones willing to take the risk may be in for the greater benefits if they decide to take the risk. But most businesses, especially smaller ones, are not willing to take risks with newer technologies, they wait until the Fortune 500 folks take a gander at it to see if it's worthwhile and then procede with caution with their own decisions. Bottom line: no one knows whether a product or service will take off and only time will tell if and when there will be a tipping point of a growing ecosystem being built.

And is there a path of innovation that will help the ecosystem grow?

Now here's a question that I can answer: it depends on how the innovators define the ecosystem and whether it will grow or not. The more restrictive the technology is (i.e. Intellectual Property) toward growth the less or smaller the path will be for others. No different than world governments. The more restrictive the less growth, the less restrictive the more growth. So, if you want your technology to take off, get liberal with it.

Open Source is here to stay and will continue to grow and companies would will be well advised to keep it on their radar screen. The real question is: are the VCs and others keeping their fingers on the pulse of the health of technologies or are they keeping their wetted finger in the air monitoring the winds of rumors and smoke signals.

Update: Take a look at Vince Cerf's comment at Doc Searls' "Saving the Net: How to Keep the Carriers from Flushing the Net Down the Tubes" for a quick and more precise comment about being open.