[LUG] M4 as Open source ???

[Rick Timmis <rick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi List

May have another topic for discussion at the meet. I have been talking 
with Bill Wilson from Ylem with regard to the development of Mobius 4, 
the next release version of their Business DB Application. Many 
conversations have taken place around the Merits of OSS and GPL. Bill 
has tentatively suggested ( And no doubt there will be a rebuke from him 
for me releasing this to the list ) that Ylem could be interested in 
releasing Mobius 4 in Open Source and allowing the community to develop 
it. It would be interesting to have some views and discussion on the 
topic of Open Development and GPL / FSF software.

From a Linux in business point of view, the one real application that 
seems to be missing is a Global Business application. Sure Mobius 3 
gives this, but the License charges for the Unify database are 
prohibitive. Once again more money going into the American Corporate 
coffers. Don't get me wrong I am not averse to paying for softare, I 
just don't like being held to Ransom.

Seems to me that If you write software, offer Service or Customisation 
Programming and there are real business benefits then those people or 
organisations that provide those services should be compensated for 
their work. At the same time you can't run a software tax.

I wonder whether there are any of us in the LUG that would be interested 
in getting involved in such a development project?

Perhaps Ylem would be interested in telling us more about the future of 
M4 ? ( I expect that'll be the Cat in with them Pigeons now ! )

I wonder whether this kind of project may be of some use to Adrian NHS 
Project ?

Any thoughts?

Cheers Rick




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