SEBASTOPOL, CA–Open source and other forms of collaborative
software are fueling much of the innovation in the technology
industry. Linux is challenging the Microsoft hegemony, and the
Internet is built on open source(TM) software. In recognition of
open source’s impact, InfoWorld has presented their 1998 Industry
Achievement award to Tim O’Reilly, president and CEO of O’Reilly
& Associates, as a representative of the collaborative software
community.
“InfoWorld’s recognition of the Open Source community couldn’t
come at a better time,” said O’Reilly. “The momentum behind Linux,
the development of ‘hybrid’ business models that include both open
source and proprietary software by companies like Sendmail and
Scriptics, and the continuing strength of open source software such
as Apache and Perl all point to a robust, diverse future for a
spectrum of development models that leverage the strengths of
collaborative development and open standards. Open-source software
has reinvigorated the industry.”
In announcing the award, InfoWorld’s Nicholas Petreley stated,
“This year’s Industry Achievement award is dedicated to the entire
community of collaborative software developers. Tim O’Reilly,
founder and CEO of O’Reilly & Associates–the leading publisher
of books about the Internet and open-source technologies such as
Perl, Linux, and Apache–will be accepting the award on their
behalf.”
O’Reilly’s leadership role in the open source community extends
beyond his firm’s publishing program. As the Internet became the
centerpiece of the current economic boom, O’Reilly reminded the
business world that the Internet’s development was made possible by
open standards and collaborative development processes. He
undertook a personal campaign to make clear that open source was a
force not only on the operating system front (via Linux) but also a
key part of the Internet infrastructure. He worked to bring
much-deserved recognition to open source pioneers like Eric Allman
(Sendmail), Paul Vixie (BIND), Larry Wall (Perl), and the Apache
Group.
In April 1998, O’Reilly invited key West Coast developers to the
first Freeware Summit, an event that galvanized the community and
focused press attention on the importance of collaborative software
development. Summit participants agreed to adopt Eric Raymond’s new
term, “Open Source,” and to work together to increase acceptance
and use of open-source software. O’Reilly also presented Open
Source Developer’s Day in August 1998, the first public education
event about open-source software development. In August 1999,
O’Reilly is offering technical conferences on open source
technologies including Linux, Apache, Perl, Tcl, and Sendmail
(http://conferences.oreilly.com).
The company recently published “Open Sources: Voices from the Open
Source Revolution,” a collection of essays written by leaders of
the Open Source movement about how it works, why it succeeds, and
where it is going.
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Open Source is a trademark of the Open Source Initiative.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 22, 1999
CONTACT: Sara Winge, 707/829-0515 x285, sara@oreilly.com
http://www.oreilly.com