@jflsakfja:
How many companies have spent millions so far on solutions that stop working when the next OS version comes out? Either that or they get stuck on outdated and unpatched systems, which lead to their compromise. How many of those companies would be in the same position if they used open source software as a foundation of their systems?
Let's take ACME bank for example. ACME bank needs to make sure that their systems are secure, since they are after all a bank. They hire a programmer to write their custom bank software, and when he is finished, they hire someone to audit it. 5 years down the line, when the original software author gets run over by a black van with tinted windows, the bank is left at the mercy of the people doing the audit.
Rewind back the clock now. ACME bank searches for an open source software that does the job they need. Let's assume for now that they do find such a project. They get in touch with the developers to add a couple of things they need, the developers make the changes, and the software is rushed into production. The bank then audits the software through third parties and finds a bug. The developers fix that bug in a timely manner.
5 years down the line ABC bank comes into play. They search for an open source project, and they find the one that ACME bank uses. They also get interested and start using the software. 5 years down the line they in turn discover a bug that ACME's auditors missed all those years. End result? Both banks benefit, since the bugs are fixed in the common code by its developers. Instead of investing millions, they invested a couple thousand into their software (excluding audits, since that's mandatory) which in turn fed the developers and supported the software's community.
Good example, thanks for it. Unfortunately this can only happen in a dream world. Here's the reason why:
Bank ACME and bank ABC are competitors on their market. It's against their interest to show the ways/workflows they use to make business. That's why they rather pay trillions more money to keep the source closed and their own property. They will never agree to share internal workflows and business secrets with each other… and computer software is more and more the base for business workflows everywhere. They will also never agree to share these things to public because then newer and newer competitors could come and decrease profits.
It's all about money and time, unfortunately. How fast can Cisco firewall be deployed within a big company? How many people can stand behind it? Are there any guarantees? Oh sure, many contracts can be signed and promises and lies, nobody cares really. Can't be the same with pfSense... this is the reality nowdays, and I can't really see how can it be changes.
Businessmen and politicians don't care about the community and honesty and trust. This whole NSA is nothing more than another method to try to get more money by gaining newer and newer business positions over the world. America doesn't want to allow to be overridden by China...
Every time I realise this I get more and more angry and start fearing about what a rude world we're living in. And I have two children I have to rise, what should I teach them...?
