Sebastopol, CA–O’Reilly & Associates and Hewlett-Packard
Company today introduced sourceXchange (http://www.sourcexchange.com), a
Web-based service that has the potential to significantly impact
the way in which software is developed by expediting collaboration
between corporations and developers on corporate-sponsored
open-source development projects.
SourceXchange, an affiliate of O’Reilly & Associates, was
founded in conjunction with HP, the founding sponsor. The two
companies plan to launch the service in early summer with an array
of open-source development projects from HP that expand its
commitment to open-source technologies. Pending a successful beta
launch in July, sourceXchange will accept projects from other
enterprise sponsors.
“HP came to us with a challenge,” said Brian Behlendorf, chief
technology officer for O’Reilly & Associates. “They wanted to
further the development of specific open-source software projects,
but they needed a better way to reach out to the wider developer
community and coordinate the development process. HP makes for an
ideal partner to launch the service, as they have made a very
strong commitment to various open-source projects, including Linux,
and their core business objectives are quite compatible with this
new model for software development.” SourceXchange was developed
under the direction of Behlendorf, co-founder of the Apache
project, a leading open source initiative, and core developer of
the market-leading Apache Web server.
“HP wanted to make a lasting and visionary contribution to the
open-source movement while demonstrating our faith in the
open-source developer and development model,” said Wayne Caccamo,
manager of HP’s Open Source Solutions Operation. “We partnered with
Brian Behlendorf and O’Reilly to ensure that sourceXchange would
become a reality.”
“The sourceXchange is an essential step in the evolution of open
source,” said Tim O’Reilly, chief executive officer of O’Reilly
& Associates. “In the past year, everyone from computer vendors
to large end users have realized the immense power of the
open-source software-development model. But it’s often hard for
companies to hook up with the right people in the open-source
community. sourceXchange will change that. This new service brings
the corporate world and the open-source community together on the
Web, and gives them the tools to manage development projects
online.”
ABOUT SOURCEXCHANGE
More than just a job-posting or recruiting Web site,
sourceXchange is the industry’s first vehicle to manage the
open-source development process that protects the interests of both
corporate sponsors and open-source developers.
The sourceXchange is a Web site that maintains a database of all
published project RFPs posted by corporate sponsors, registers
open-source developers and their teams, manages RFP responses from
the developer community, and manages payment. It also will
incorporate peer review and project milestones to ensure quality
and reliability of each development project.
For project sponsors, sourceXchange can extend
software-development resources and budgets with a simple,
compelling outsourcing option that can improve time to market and
open-source software-development predictability. Working with an
intermediary also shields sponsors from the complexities of the
conventional contracting engagement process.
For open-source developers, sourceXchange provides access to a
database of challenging and enriching projects and a community of
potential collaborators. Moreover, developers are compensated for
their work in cash or in kind. The code developed will be
contributed back to the open-source community to help accelerate
the open-source movement.