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This was a lightning talk I gave at OSCON. Basically, trying to establish why the Open Cloud Initiative is necessary.
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Is FOSS Necessary?
Hi. I'm John Mark. I have opinions.
In a services world...
The interface is everything
Interfaces can hide / reveal
Interfaces can allow / deny
Interfaces can lock you in...
...or they can grant you freedom
...but they don't have to
It's not in an interface's immediate interest to grant
you more freedom
ie. make it easier for you to leave.
In fact, it's exactly the opposite
So, about free software
Does FOSS change this dynamic?
If free software is behind the interface...
You're still at the discretion of the interface
The interface doesn't care what's running behind it
...or in front of it
The interface doesn't care if your last name is Stallman...
...or Peters
...or DiBona
Dude...
The interface is a friggin' robot...
With laser beams comin' out of its friggin' eyeballs...
In this scenario, free software doesn't matter
At least not in the way we currently think about it
Hi. I have opinions.
Like any robot, the interface is only as good as its creator
Or crappy.Choose your comparison.
What if service providers were compelled to be more
free?
“By what?” you may ask.
By rules. Rules about data, service and API portability.
OMG! Free markets! Are you some kind of commie? DFH!
DFH!”
Dude. Rules are everywhere.
Rules make for stronger, viable, sustainable
ecosystems.
And rules are not necessarily anti-business.
Japanese automakers voluntarily added new safety
features in the 80's
...even though it added to the cost of production
Did they go out of business? Lose market share?
No. In fact, they kicked ass.
In 1998, free software economy participants
published rules of engagement, known as the
Open Source Definition
...And it was a disaster. I mean, nobody uses Open
Source. Clearly, rules are bad for business.
Er... um... ok, that's not what happened.
Hi. I have opinions.
When some segment of industry or a particular
company bitches about new rules and regulations...
You need to check the source and their motivations
Because they're often wrong.
So when I say that we need rules to govern data, service
and API portability...
Pay close attention to those who don't agree.
So no, FOSS, as we currently know it, is not enough.
But something like FOSS....
Something that recognizes the rights of all participants...
Something that recognizes what is needed to establish a
viable ecosystem...
...is necessary
Because if there's one thing we've learned...
...it's that good rules don't grow on trees.
...and neither do sustainable systems.
They happen because a lot of good people work really hard
to make them happen
And that is why I support...
The Open Cloud Principles and the Open Cloud Initiative
Open InterfacesOpen Formats
Open DataOpen Source
Open Interfaces → Open protocols, open API
Open Formats → ODF, Atom
Open Data → CC licenses, open knowledge
Open Source → Oh, come on
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