“As 1999 draws to a close, it’s clear that open-source software
has arrived. Even technology graybeards like IBM…and
Hewlett-Packard…and perhaps even Microsoft…have warmed to the
idea of releasing the source code for some of their products.”
“Users are installing open-source programs like the Linux
operating system and the Apache Web server at the same rate at
which they’re installing best-selling proprietary programs. Red
Hat…an open-source startup, went public in August and now has a
market capitalization of $6.4 billion.”
“But a crucial step is required for open source to keep gaining
acceptance. Just as the technology industry needed companies
like Red Hat to turn open-source programs into commercial products,
it needs companies to turn the process of developing open-source
software into a commercial service. Currently, unpaid
volunteers develop most open-source programs. But companies that
require a specific piece of code can’t command these programmers to
develop it — and the volunteers have no incentive to develop
software that doesn’t benefit them directly.”