Hi Mike,
Here we go ... ;-)
Could you expand on "(many)"? I'd argue that if you're worried about
losing control of "blameability" you've already failed before you've
begun.
The so-called "community" includes Canonical, Apple, Google, Yahoo, Sun,
IBM, Dell, HP, Red Hat, Novell, Oracle, most decent Universities, the US
DOD, Adobe etc. - i.e., pretty much everyone except Microsoft.
Open source LAMP technologies are so predominant that sourcing a full
support contract, if required, from such companies with pedigree is
trivially easy and cost-effective.
For smaller institutions with little or no dedicated IT budget, especially
those with in-house IT expertise (or swap and share IT support with
neighbouring friendly institutions!), open source is a no-brainer and most
definitely much, much more cost-effective (as well as being cheaper and,
more importantly, better).
Regards,
James
On Thu, 17 Jul 2008, Mike Ellis wrote:
> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:41:47 +0100
> From: Mike Ellis <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Museums Computer Group <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [MCG] CMS specifications
>
> I can sense the usual "opensource vs proprietary" conversation getting
> out of control...
>
> But...one of the (many) problems with opensource is that you (as
> institution) lose control of blameability if you just chuck this into
> the so-called "community". Having a single PHP developer is one thing
> but in my experience it helps to have a company to call when the thing
> breaks. Which it will.
>
> Second (and I really am fanning the fires here), don't go assuming that
> OS projects are going to be cheaper. Or, for that matter, "open". The
> codebase that you have to get developed is usually as closed as it gets,
> often non-documented, and - again, in my experience - as expensive /
> more expensive than a bespoke solution.
>
> I'll say no more.
>
> Mike
>
>
> Mike Ellis
> Professional Services Group
>
> Eduserv
> [log in to unmask]
> tel: 01225 470522
> mob: 07017 031522
> fax: 01225 474301
> www.eduserv.org.uk
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Cristiano Bianchi | Keepthinking
> Sent: 17 July 2008 11:03
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: CMS specifications
>
> Jeremy,
>
> are you sure are legally entitled to do that? The fact that the source
> is 'open', i.e. visible and changeable, typical of web most
> technologies, does not automatically mean you 'own' it and can freely
> change it. In most case you own a license for the software as it is -
> I think.
>
> Moreover, if you change it, you may loose the ability to benefit from
> future upgrade of the software - let alone warranty issues - as you
> are disconnecting and branching off your development from the main
> stream.
>
> This may not be an issue with the (now defunct?) MS CMS, but for
> products which are alive and being updated, would you not incur in
> more issues in terms of sustainability than the ones that you solve?
>
> With an OS project, if you're interested in developing, you could join
> the community and get your own updates into the main source code.
>
> Thanks,
> Cristiano
>
>
>
>
> On 17 Jul 2008, at 10:43, Ottevanger, Jeremy wrote:
>
>> Can I just point out that having the ability to change (at least a
>> large
>> part of) the code-base is not limited to "open source" solutions? For
>> example, whilst I'm not recommending it, the ageing Microsoft CMS we
>> use
>> is built on .Net and if you can programme that then there's little you
>> can't do. You might not *want* to do certain things because they'd be
>> too complex, although I've not hit that barrier yet - but that could
>> at
>> least in theory apply to open source too - there could be a
>> prohibitive
>> learning curve even if it's all possible in principle. The only thing
>> I've wanted to do that I've not been able to is rewrite the calendar
>> control, but with I think that too may be possible with newer versions
>> of .Net (which they are supposedly opening the code base for).
>>
>> I guess my point is that Open Source is not the only way to get open
>> source i.e. source code you can fix and extend yourself. One other
>> thing
>> is that, whilst it's true of Joomla and Drupal, it would be false to
>> assume that because a CMS is built using a *language* that is OS, the
>> CMS is OS - or vice versa.
>>
>> OK, carry on.
>>
>> Jeremy
>>
>>
>>
>> Jeremy Ottevanger
>> Web Developer, Museum Systems Team
>> Museum of London Group
>> 46 Eagle Wharf Road
>> London. N1 7ED
>> Tel: 020 7410 2207
>> Fax: 020 7600 1058
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>> www.museumoflondon.org.uk
>> Museum of London is changing. Visit www.museumoflondon.org.uk to
>> find out more.
>> Explore how the Great Fire shaped the city
> www.museumoflondon.org.uk/londonsburning
>> Jack the Ripper and the East End a major new exhibition at Museum in
>> Docklands, opens 15 May
>> Before printing, please think about the environment
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
>> Michael Guthrie
>> Sent: 17 July 2008 09:24
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: [MCG] CMS specifications
>>
>> Or Joomla!, by far the best PHP CMS ;-)
>> We use it for the www.seayourhistory.org.uk And it has been a great
>> solution.
>>
>> www.joomla.org and now it is 1.5 version it is very good indeed.
>>
>> For a DAMS we use www.dspace.org
>> For an image gallery we use http://gallery.menalto.com integrated into
>> Joomla
>>
>> As many have said here, open source solutions can be very advantageous
>> in not being locked into a vendor or company to make any
>> customisations
>> or changes to the code base. Much easier to find a single PHP
>> developer
>> than trying to chase a company to change their code and add
>> functionality.
>>
>> Michael
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
>> Of J
>> Martin
>> Sent: 16 July 2008 21:42
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: CMS specifications
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Seconding Christiano, play with www.opensourcecms.com and email me
>> after
>> you've chosen Drupal (by far the best of the PHP CMS) or Lenya (by far
>> the best of the Java CMS) ;-)
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> James
>>
>> On Wed, 16 Jul 2008, James Morley wrote:
>>
>>> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:36:26 +0100
>>> From: James Morley <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Reply-To: Museums Computer Group <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: [MCG] CMS specifications
>>>
>>> Without wishing to start a whole debate, and most certainly not
>> soliciting phone calls from vendors (!), does anyone have any
>> recommendations as to an up to date source of fairly high level,
>> generic
>> CMS specifications / requirements analysis?
>>>
>>> Thanks, James
>>>
>>>
>>>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> James Morley [log in to unmask]
>>> Website Manager Tel. +44 (0)20 8332 5759
>>> Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew www.kew.org
>>>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> -
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> **************************************************
>>> For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list,
>>> visit
>>
>>> the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
>>> **************************************************
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Your object is to save the world, while still leading a pleasant life.
>>
>> What's that [ http://search.microsoft.com/ ] site running?
>>
>> http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://
>> search.microsoft.com
>>
>> Answer: Linux.
>>
>> [log in to unmask] SDF-EU Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf-eu.org
>>
>> **************************************************
>> For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit
>> the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
>> **************************************************
>>
>> **************************************************
>> For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit
>> the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
>> **************************************************
>>
>> **************************************************
>> For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list,
>> visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
>> **************************************************
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cristiano Bianchi
> Keepthinking
>
> Bull Inn Court
> 15 Maiden Lane
> London WC2E 7NG
>
> t. +44 20 7240 8014
> f. +44 20 7240 8015
> m. +44 7939 041169 (uk)
> m. +39 329 533 4469 (it)
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
> **************************************************
> For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit
> the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
> **************************************************
>
>
>
> Unless otherwise agreed expressly in writing by a senior manager of
> Eduserv, this communication is to be treated as confidential and the
> information in it may not be used or disclosed except for the purpose
> for which it has been sent.
> If you have reason to believe that you are not the intended recipient
> of this communication, please contact the sender immediately.
> No employee or agent is authorised to enter into any binding agreement
> or contract on behalf of Eduserv or Eduserv Technologies Ltd., unless
> that agreement is subsequently confirmed by the conclusion of a written
> contract or the issue of a purchase order.
> Eduserv (Limited by Guarantee) – company number 3763109 - and
> Eduserv Technologies Ltd – company number – 4256630 - are both
> companies incorporated in England and Wales and have their registered
> offices at Queen Anne House, 11 Charlotte Street, Bath, BA1 2NE.
>
> **************************************************
> For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
> **************************************************
>
--
Your object is to save the world, while still leading a pleasant life.
What's that [ http://search.microsoft.com/ ] site running?
http://toolbar.netcraft.com/site_report?url=http://search.microsoft.com
Answer: Linux.
[log in to unmask] SDF-EU Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf-eu.org
**************************************************
For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
**************************************************
|