Geek power can beat manpower ( was: Re: The Fact of relational algebra )

Jesper Ladegaard wrote:
> Actual, this reminds me of a conversation with Carl some time
> ago where I brought up the usual rant of mine (that everything
> in the commercial software world sucks and ain't working) and
> he told me that he didn't think it was that bad because it allows
> other people to create something better.

Yup!

Just imagine manpower would be the only way to create good software, there would be no chance for us to start something new. We would be doomed to work as slaves for the large companies.

No matter how sophisticated software engineering processes will get, good software will always be dependant on the ideas and achievements of individuals.

Small efficient teams spread all over the world, working together by email, will beat Microsoft and Oracle tomorrow. It's sad that so many young guys invest so much work into free software, without making a good living from their talent. Without financial benefits they often loose interest and excellent projects get abandoned. This will hopefully change.

> One thing is sure, if I ever get something running that will
> kick all you reductionists sorry asses back to the stone age,
> nobody (i.e. Oracle or SUN) will never ever get their dirty
> hands on it and screw it up, even that they offered me a
> billion dollars under the table.

You should have set 'X-No-archive: yes' on this one. ;-)

Today you still have the problem that IT-deciders are reluctant to invest into software that does not come from large companies. It can take a long time until your "kick-ass-software" gets bought, no matter how good it is. If you run dry on money, selling your software might be the better option instead of abandoning the project completely.

Hopefully the way IT-managers think will change: - As we see, large companies also run out of money. - As we see, large companies are more scrupulous to abandon projects (Microsoft and J++ for example). - A small company that runs without any debts and earns it's money from selling software, is more healthy and more likely to be around with good software than a large company running on stock money. The small company needs to create good software, the large company doesn't.

I see us geeks joined to a highly efficient geek network in five years. We will sell software with quality, not with marketing. A software company run by a businessman never is interested to build good software. All they want is money. That will not pay off in the long run.

Kind regards,
Carl

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Carl Rosenberger
db4o - database for objects - http://www.db4o.com