Is Open Source Dead?

Is Open Source Software A Flop?
This question comes up every once in a while, and more so of late. According to my dictionary there are several possible meanings of the word flop. The only one that makes sense in this context is "to fail utterly". By any reasonable understanding of failure, the obvious answer is no. Open Source (OS) software runs the internet (BIND/DNS, sendmail, apache, perl, just to name a few) and the user base for OS software and operating systems continues to grow. Hardly a failure. Like the imminent death of the internet, the imminent death of linux/open source/*bsd/apache/your name here/email/etc is an easy way to fill up space and meet your deadline.

If you look deeper into the current iteration of the debate, it begins to resolve into "OS is a flop because it disappointed Wall Street". Personally, I consider anything that disappoints Wall Street to be a resounding success, but I realize that there is a different perspective for businesses. The instigator of the debate seems to be unaware that the entire economy, let alone the tech sector, is in something of a recession and all sectors are disappointing Wall Street right now.

This brings about a fundamental question. Are we saying that something is a flop because the mainstream business press doesn't support it? If that is the case, then I fear for our future. I would argue that success should be defined by an ability for a product/company/individual/group/protocol/etc to gain a userbase and continue to add to that userbase and the ability to sustain the business in supporting that userbase by whatever means possible. A company like Apache maintains the business by accepting donations and providing a great product as well as supporting customization for companies such as IBM. The Zope Corporation maintains itself by selling services and consulting as well as enhanced packages around their open source web application server. The W3C is supported by membership fees. Several companies that develop linux distros employ kernel hackers and pay them to continue developing the kernel and make their money by selling services and boxed packages. OpenBSD supports themselves through selling boxed software/documentation and apparel.

Just because a company open sources their product does not mean that they cannot make a profit and survive as a company.

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