From: "Howard J. Rogers" <hjr@...>
Date: 2004-05-07T20:19:06+09:00
Subject: Re: What so special about PostgreSQL and other RDBMS?

Volker Hetzer wrote:


> You didn't read my posting, right? I don't *want* to create my own development
> team competing with the original one. I don't want to merge my change back into
> their code with every new release! I don't want to develop code and then have
> them decide whether they condescend to incorporate it or not! I want the authors
> of the software to do the coding based on what I'm willing to pay for!


Precisely. There's nothing wrong with contracts, or a willingness to pay 
for a willingness to support. This is where open source can indeed 
become the socialist flim-flam that Microsoft spoke about (though in the 
wrong context, and drawing the wrong conclusions). Good software 
requires a bit more than warm hugs and cuddles. It requires a contract.

And I heartily concur with your point about not wanting to create your 
own development team. Was 200 years of division-of-labour theory in 
vain? I think not. I'd quite happily pay for a competent team to do my 
development for me, if that happens to free me up to do the stuff *I* 
happen to be modestly competent at.

Why such trade-offs should be considered the spawn of Beelzebub, I have 
no idea.

Regards
HJR