Open source used to be toutted as a great evil to hit the Internet.  Free software, how evil is that?  TechCrunch reports that “Open Source Fear Mongering Is Ridiculous With the Advent Of APIs.”  Open APIs and open source software have become confused.  Open APIs have become the preferred way to exchange information between companies and it allows third party partners and developers access to their technology.   TIBCO CEO Vivek Ranadive recently attacked open source saying it does come with a price tag despite it being free.  For some reason, Ranadive has it in his head that open source is not a good developmental tool.

In the same conversation, Ranadive said he thinks it is more about open APIs these days then open source.  He said big companies like Tibco do support open source but in total, his company does not compete with open source technology.

It’s without question that open APIs are more important these days but the open source model is thriving, too.  They are not the same but co-exist in a more federated environment.

Ranadive makes an interesting point about open APIs and open source. APIs offer significant functionality for proprietary software users that want to take advantage of the community support provided through open source development.  LucidWorks is a private company that built its enterprise and Cloud search applications on open source software.  The ability they offer through their own application development for customized solutions is a prime example of private and public working together.

Whitney Grace, October 15, 2012

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