03-07-2005, 07:32 PM
Assalam-O-Alaikom
Recently PSEB announced its initiative to hire a software firm for Open Source development of an ERP for the local Textile industry. I contacted PSEB to confirm, if they intend to put the SRS document under the Open Source liscense terms. Good news for us small software firms that PSEB intends to put all artifacts under the open source lisence terms. But the problem remains that PSEB not only wants an Open Source product but it wants that product to be developed using open source technolgies (like LAMP etc.). [V] PROBELM !!!! Pakistani IT industry is heavily microsoft dependent and the non microsoft dependent firms don't have the resources or experience to develop an ERP. (ERP development is a massive task but not intellectually difficult)
Even if PSEB settels with an ERP developed on microsoft technologies what gurantees are there that big software firms like Kalsoft will take part in the initiative. Its because, the primary concern of any software firm will be to safe guard its intellectual assets (the product and its artifacts) but contrary to this Open Source would mean that participating companies will have to make public the source code and possabily the design documents. This will result in disinterest from big/experienced firms, although Open Source doesn't mean free of cost.
I need your thoughts about this "Open Source Initiative" form PSEB.
Furqan Ahmed