[JDEV] FW: "Unsupported" software...

[Rolle, Ted]

Here's a message I sent to a manager after I installed Jabber client/server.
He made the mistake of calling it "unsupported software".  Anyone have
comments/additions?

Subject: "Unsupported" software...


Here's some additional information about "unsupported" software -- otherwise
known as "open source" or "free" software.

Support for open source software is often superior to that of commercial
software.

If I find -- or create <g> -- a problem that I can't fix, I post a message
to a mailing list and within the hour (usually on the order of a few
minutes) have an answer -- possibly from the author of the package.

Commercial packages -- on the other hand -- shield their developers from the
hordes of users so that they can further develop the product.  Support is
delegated/relegated to a "support desk/team" who usually do not have the
resources (access to the source) that the open-source community does.

Open-source software tends to be better-written than its counterpart, for
two reasons:

1.  The software is visible to all; programmers write more carefully when
they know it's going to be reviewed by the community; and
2.  These programs are a "labor of love" -- the practice of releasing
programs with known bugs or reduced functionality to meet revenue-induced
deadlines simply doesn't exist.

There.  That's my $0.02.

Ted
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