Re: Linux and Informix ?

Jason, Your comments help explain why Informix is unlikely to want to port to Linux as well as to the regular (meaning manufacturer-supplied, mostly) operating systems on those platforms. I think the same criteria would apply to almost any commercial software supplier. First of all, Informix is most unlikely to release its source code to anyone without receiving a hefty fee or without placing strict confidentiality requirements on the licensee. Informix is, first and foremost, a commercial organization, and it's software is its life-blood. And if the source code were released, there'd be nothing except the licencing arrangements to stop anybody from putting it on any other platform of their choice. So, Informix would either need to do the ports in-house or sub-contract the work to a legally-responsible organization. Secondly, you listed 6 platforms (minimum); it takes over a month to port the products to a given platform because of the extensive testing required. We already have to port to a large number of platforms, and adding 6 platforms requires: * at least 6 extra machines to run Linux on * people to keep track of Linux on those platforms * an extra 6 man-months of porting and (mainly) testing time Plus the other operational costs of handling the system. There are also issues like 'we use Atria for source code control and is it available on Linux?' Essentially, Informix is not able to exploit the goodwill of the Linux community to help with the porting work precisely because its software (source code) is not available for all and sundry to use without charge. Of course, the situation may change over time; that is why Informix will keep evaluating the situation. If it is any consolation, this discussion has at least given Linux some visibility in the Product Marketing group where its presence had not previously been felt. Yours, Jonathan Leffler (johnl@informix.com) #include <disclaimer.h> }Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 05:15:27 -0500 }From: Jason Lambert <root@bassinc.com> }X-Informix-List-Id: <list.6653> } }On 19 Jun 1995, Angela Sanchez wrote: } }> Jason Lambert (root@bassinc.com) wrote: }> : Now only if Informix would do a real port to Linux... It shouldn't be that }> : hard... Linux is getting to be a pretty popular platform, If Informix needed }> : help all they had to do is ask... Hell, I would help them if they asked.. }> : (HINT HINT HINT HINT) } }> I asked the Product Marketing group to investigate this thread }> on Linux. Following is their reply: } }First off, I want to thank you for taking the time to even consider the }idea of porting Informix (SE or Online) to the Linux platforms. If you }ever decided to do a port to Linux, you would have a large number }of people that would be willing help on the project. Linux is a different }kind of operating system in that it is a free one. People are willing }to work together to make, something bigger than themselves. It is this }"something bigger than themselves" and peoples willingness to provide a }quality piece of software for little or no cost that makes it special. } }Linux is at a stage where it is being ported to the Sun,Dec Alpha,Intel and }Motorola (680xx and Power PC). It has a very large number of users in many }different countries that use it in their day to day activies. A growing }number of commercial applications are starting to show up, but one thing }IMHO that it is lacking is a very solid database system like Informix SE or }Online series. I know that if an industry standard DB where to become }available to the platform a large number of companies would port over }just because of the cost effectiveness of the Linux System... } }> We strive to provide quality database technologies to our }> new and existing customers where there is clear market need and }> demand. }> }> When considering new development, Informix is committed to }> delivering products which have the overall quality and }> support you need. Working with FSF directly would be needed to make }> this happen. } }The Linux community would be glad to help out if needed, to bring }Informix over to Linux. I think you will find that there are some pretty }bright people working with Linux. } }> To date, we have not heard a lot of customer requests to provide our }> solution on the Linux environment. However, we will continue to listen }> and evaluate this decision and opportunity as the market evolves. } }One thing to consider about the Linux community is that they don't always }come out and bug people for things, they usually end up just writing it }themselves. But, just like other people if the solution is available they }will use it. } }> Thank you for your request for new products from Informix. } }Your welcome, Thank you for the time and the ear to tell my story. } }=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= }Jason Lambert Bass, Inc. }CIX System Analyst 2211 Arbor Blvd. }(513) 293-5732 Dayton, Ohio }jlambert@bassinc.com 45439 }=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=