IBM rapes open source

After users reminded IBM of its open source commitment, the company suddenly seems to have back peddled on its promises.

That is at least what happened with the company's Cgidev2 tool, a development tool for its iSeries server line that allows developers to web-enable applications that are written in COBOL or RPG.

Although IBM's website claims that the software is open source, the company now seems to be a saying that it really isn't.

Users actually are never presented with any licence agreement. The IBM website certainly doesn't say which open source licence governs the code, and users who download the free tools don't get to see one either.

So when Giovanni Perotti asked IBM if he could host the Cigdev2 application on his website, the answer was simple: "No way!"

But Big Blue never realised that Perotti retired from IBM only months ago, or that he was the last developer to work on the application. Following its flat out denial, the next logical step was that Cgidev2 would be mothballed, frozen in time.

Users cried foul, IBM was embarrassed, emails clogged IBM inboxes, and before you knew it, IBM decided to assign developers to keep the project up and running. But be that inside IBM's website.

The continuing support for the software is great for Cgidev2 users, but the larger issue is still that IBM abused open source. The software vendor attracted users and developers by claiming that the code was open source, and now gets away with back peddling on a legal technicality: there is no open source licence to back up the claim.

The whole thing leaves a large dent in IBM's reputation as open source advocate.

But at least the company knows how to cut its losses. IBM now is considering releasing the source code after all, a company spokeswoman told vnunet.com. Better late than never.

Tux

IBM makes Tux meet Pinocchio

Tags: open source, linux, OSI, IBM, iseries

01 Aug 2005

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Re: Tony: Thank you for posting the official PR response about this mishap. But remove the PR veil and focus on what happened: 1: IBM said (and still says on its website) that the application was open source, but won't let anybody distribute the code – a clear violation of any open source licence. And why say that you are "investigating licensing the code under an Open Source license at a later date" if your website says it already is? 2: IBM let the tool's sole software developer retire and didn't assign any staff to replace him _UNTIL_ users cried out. Did IBM purposely mothball the application? Perhaps not. But I wouldn't label that as "miscommunication". That is negligence to say the least.

Posted by: SV Sleuth 02 Aug 2005

Recent reports suggest that the eServer iSeries system will no longer support CGIDEV2 code. This report was a miscommunication and IBM regrets the confusion it has caused. To address any issues customers may still have, IBM will direct customers to a different Web site (URL to be determined), from which CGIDEV2 may be downloaded. All visitors to the current Easy400 site will be redirected to the new CGIDEV2 site. CGIDEV2 enables programmers to write code for the Internet, using COBOL or RPG as CGI language, which reinvigorates legacy applications. Additionally, IBM is investigating licensing the code under an Open Source license at a later date.

Posted by: Tony Nievera 02 Aug 2005

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