Re: [WebDNA] The Single-Vendor Commercial Open Source Business Model

This WebDNA talk-list message is from

2012


It keeps the original formatting.
numero = 107901
interpreted = N
texte = sal danna wrote: > Happy New Year Everyone, > > In the spirit of this being the first day of the new year, I would like > to start a discussion about how to ensure the future of WebDNA. I was > first introduced to WebDNA about 12 years ago when I began working at > Smith Micro Software. At that time, I tried to do whatever I could to > keep WebDNA from getting tossed to the side like some other brands Smith > Micro Software purchases and squeezes every last breath out of. > > Understanding and embracing the market trends was not their strong > point. They bought companies that had already joined the trend rather > then participating in one. Looking back, I knew deep down that they > would never embrace the concept of open source software. I also felt > that when WebDNA was on its' last leg, they would simply toss it aside > rather than provide it as open source to the community. There was also > a possibility they might never even sell it to anybody simply out of spite. > > So when I heard a couple years ago that a group of WebDNA developers got > together and convinced Smith Micro Software to sell WebDNA, I thought > things would change and WebDNA would have a second chance at life. With > the announcement of Version 7 being implemented allowing WebDNA to run > as fcgi module that can run at the site level, I was encouraged that > things were progressing and that opensource was just around the corner. > > But then I saw the recent email about lack of funds to work on the > Windows version of WebDNA and the license sale/promotion offered and the > very real need for funding for WebDNA. At that point, it struck me that > maybe WebDNA was never going to be open source after all. Did I miss > something? > > It is my belief and hope that the current owners of WebDNA will > seriously consider making WebDNA a Single Vendor Commercial Open Source > Software using a same or similar model as MySQL. There are many ways to > generate income with open source, however since you purchased WebDNA, > your model should include retaining ownership of the underlying code > while at the same time leveraging the open source community to enhance > WebDNA for everyone's benefit. > > The information below is from The Single-Vendor Commercial Open Source > Business Model > > written by Dirk Riehle SAP Research, SAP Labs LLC. > > ABSTRACT > Single-vendor commercial open source software projects are open > source software projects that are owned by a single firm that > derives a direct and significant revenue stream from the > software. Single-vendor commercial open source at first glance > represents an economic paradox: How can a firm earn money if it > is making its product available for free as open source? This > paper presents the core properties of single-vendor open source > business models and discusses how they work. Using a > single-vendor open source approach, firms can get to market > faster with a superior product at lower cost than possible for > traditional competitors. The paper shows how these benefits > accrue from an engaged and self-supporting user community. > Lacking any prior comprehensive reference, this paper is based > on an analysis of public statements by practitioners of > single-vendor open source. It forges the various anecdotes into > a coherent description of revenue generation strategies and > relevant business functions. > > 5. CONCLUSION > Open source is changing how software is built and how money is > made. Industry analysts predict that by 2012 more than half of > all open source revenue will accrue to single-vendor dominated > open source projects, called single-vendor commercial open > source. This paper comprehensively presents the core properties > of single-vendor commercial open source firms as well as their > main business functions. Through a review of interviews and > presentations by practitioners of commercial open source as well > as other sources, this paper shows how at the core of the > successful commercial open source firm is an engaged and > self-supporting user community. From this user community, many > benefits accrue, touching almost every business function of the > firm: Sales are eased and increased through inside champions and > reduced customer risk, marketing becomes more effective through > better testimonials and active community support, product > management more easily meets customer needs and benefits from > user innovation, engineering creates a superior product faster > and cheaper, and support costs are reduced. Thus, first order of > business for a commercial open source firm is to create and > sustain this community, a business function frequently > non-existent or neglected in traditional software firms. > > > I would ask that the group that now owns WebDNA take the time to read > the paper and seriously consider adopting such a model. I would also > encourage everyone on this list to voice their opinion and/or provide > additional models that may be used to support WebDNA's future. > > Again, Happy New Year to everyone. > > Sincerely, > > Sal D'Anna Hi Sal, Nice to see your post to the talk list. There were a small few good connections at SMSI that us developers could have some faith in back in the day.. and you were one of them. Since Chris has posted publicly about some things, I feel I can say a few words. I think we did pretty good with what we had to work with at the time. Chris, pretty much by himself acquired the language, which was not cheap. However, owning a language alone is really nothing.. it took the help of a group of people, and the investment of some core supporters to release Cicada. This doesn't go under appreciated by me. We got a "bucket of code" and we not only had to figure out what to do with that (unfamiliar) code, but had to update it for the new platforms, configure the installer, change the branding, add some new features, fix old bugs, and put together a distribution system. It really was a *lot* of work and for the resources we had, we did it in record time IMO. CICADA still makes sales today. Once we had CICADA, we had all the basics in place.. some financing for marketing, a veteran WebDNA'er, a great C++ and linux tech, and some strong support with some of the developers. Now, I'm not going to air any dirty laundry to the public because what was is what was, but suffice to say disagreements happened. On moving forward, the only thing I will say is the same thing I said when SMSI started to show a lack of support for WebDNA.. Any product needs to have at least some marketing to succeed. Other than that, I am taking a back seat with my opinions and am going to see what happens. I hope WSC can get back on track and does well. Donovan -- Donovan Brooke Euca Design Center www.euca.us www.keepitturning.co Associated Messages, from the most recent to the oldest:

    
  1. Re: [WebDNA] The Single-Vendor Commercial Open Source Business Model (Donovan Brooke 2012)
  2. [WebDNA] The Single-Vendor Commercial Open Source Business Model for WebDNA (sal danna 2012)
sal danna wrote: > Happy New Year Everyone, > > In the spirit of this being the first day of the new year, I would like > to start a discussion about how to ensure the future of WebDNA. I was > first introduced to WebDNA about 12 years ago when I began working at > Smith Micro Software. At that time, I tried to do whatever I could to > keep WebDNA from getting tossed to the side like some other brands Smith > Micro Software purchases and squeezes every last breath out of. > > Understanding and embracing the market trends was not their strong > point. They bought companies that had already joined the trend rather > then participating in one. Looking back, I knew deep down that they > would never embrace the concept of open source software. I also felt > that when WebDNA was on its' last leg, they would simply toss it aside > rather than provide it as open source to the community. There was also > a possibility they might never even sell it to anybody simply out of spite. > > So when I heard a couple years ago that a group of WebDNA developers got > together and convinced Smith Micro Software to sell WebDNA, I thought > things would change and WebDNA would have a second chance at life. With > the announcement of Version 7 being implemented allowing WebDNA to run > as fcgi module that can run at the site level, I was encouraged that > things were progressing and that opensource was just around the corner. > > But then I saw the recent email about lack of funds to work on the > Windows version of WebDNA and the license sale/promotion offered and the > very real need for funding for WebDNA. At that point, it struck me that > maybe WebDNA was never going to be open source after all. Did I miss > something? > > It is my belief and hope that the current owners of WebDNA will > seriously consider making WebDNA a Single Vendor Commercial Open Source > Software using a same or similar model as MySQL. There are many ways to > generate income with open source, however since you purchased WebDNA, > your model should include retaining ownership of the underlying code > while at the same time leveraging the open source community to enhance > WebDNA for everyone's benefit. > > The information below is from The Single-Vendor Commercial Open Source > Business Model > > written by Dirk Riehle SAP Research, SAP Labs LLC. > > ABSTRACT > Single-vendor commercial open source software projects are open > source software projects that are owned by a single firm that > derives a direct and significant revenue stream from the > software. Single-vendor commercial open source at first glance > represents an economic paradox: How can a firm earn money if it > is making its product available for free as open source? This > paper presents the core properties of single-vendor open source > business models and discusses how they work. Using a > single-vendor open source approach, firms can get to market > faster with a superior product at lower cost than possible for > traditional competitors. The paper shows how these benefits > accrue from an engaged and self-supporting user community. > Lacking any prior comprehensive reference, this paper is based > on an analysis of public statements by practitioners of > single-vendor open source. It forges the various anecdotes into > a coherent description of revenue generation strategies and > relevant business functions. > > 5. CONCLUSION > Open source is changing how software is built and how money is > made. Industry analysts predict that by 2012 more than half of > all open source revenue will accrue to single-vendor dominated > open source projects, called single-vendor commercial open > source. This paper comprehensively presents the core properties > of single-vendor commercial open source firms as well as their > main business functions. Through a review of interviews and > presentations by practitioners of commercial open source as well > as other sources, this paper shows how at the core of the > successful commercial open source firm is an engaged and > self-supporting user community. From this user community, many > benefits accrue, touching almost every business function of the > firm: Sales are eased and increased through inside champions and > reduced customer risk, marketing becomes more effective through > better testimonials and active community support, product > management more easily meets customer needs and benefits from > user innovation, engineering creates a superior product faster > and cheaper, and support costs are reduced. Thus, first order of > business for a commercial open source firm is to create and > sustain this community, a business function frequently > non-existent or neglected in traditional software firms. > > > I would ask that the group that now owns WebDNA take the time to read > the paper and seriously consider adopting such a model. I would also > encourage everyone on this list to voice their opinion and/or provide > additional models that may be used to support WebDNA's future. > > Again, Happy New Year to everyone. > > Sincerely, > > Sal D'Anna Hi Sal, Nice to see your post to the Talk List. There were a small few good connections at SMSI that us developers could have some faith in back in the day.. and you were one of them. Since Chris has posted publicly about some things, I feel I can say a few words. I think we did pretty good with what we had to work with at the time. Chris, pretty much by himself acquired the language, which was not cheap. However, owning a language alone is really nothing.. it took the help of a group of people, and the investment of some core supporters to release Cicada. This doesn't go under appreciated by me. We got a "bucket of code" and we not only had to figure out what to do with that (unfamiliar) code, but had to update it for the new platforms, configure the installer, change the branding, add some new features, fix old bugs, and put together a distribution system. It really was a *lot* of work and for the resources we had, we did it in record time IMO. CICADA still makes sales today. Once we had CICADA, we had all the basics in place.. some financing for marketing, a veteran WebDNA'er, a great C++ and linux tech, and some strong support with some of the developers. Now, I'm not going to air any dirty laundry to the public because what was is what was, but suffice to say disagreements happened. On moving forward, the only thing I will say is the same thing I said when SMSI started to show a lack of support for WebDNA.. Any product needs to have at least some marketing to succeed. Other than that, I am taking a back seat with my opinions and am going to see what happens. I hope WSC can get back on track and does well. Donovan -- Donovan Brooke Euca Design Center www.euca.us www.keepitturning.co Donovan Brooke

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