Oracle and Open Source
In this article, Computerworld quotes Larry Ellison of Oracle:
While Oracle Corp. is committed to the open source movement and its standards, database code will remain proprietary because there will be difficulties in providing services if customers make alterations to the source code.
While I understand a company that tries to protect source code that cost them quite a bit of money to develop, this has to be the lamest excuse ever. Difficulties in providing services if customers alter the code? Please! If you don't want to go open source, fine, but at least admit to the real reason..
On the other hand, SQLPlus could only be improved by going open source.. I know I would love to put some decent functionality into that thing.. Why can't a multimillion dollar company develop a decent command line client for their really expensive product, when an open source one like MySQL can? (Not only decent.. but an excellent one.) Why go open source with the client? Silly question..