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[Commentary] Top 10 Reasons why Servoy went Open Source

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by David Workman
Data Mosaic

The recent announcement of Servoy Open Source (SOS) is generating a healthy amount of discussion, disagreements and planning amongst a number of us longtime Servoy developers. A couple of the Waves I'm on have grown so big they could be used to run browser javascript speed tests with.

The one thing that we all agree on (including Servoy it seems) is that Servoy at minimum rolled this initiative out well before it was ready. It's missing everything except for the "Here it is and this is how to get it running. Don't forget steps 17 and 18: pat your head and rub your stomach."

To help clear up the big bomb of confusion Servoy has generated with their "open source" "release", I thought it would be helpful to shed some light on why Servoy went open source. (If you need more help than this, we sell an open source therapy package that is guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy about this whole mess for only $12,000 US.)

Ladies and gentlemen...drum roll please....The Top 10 Reasons why Servoy went Open Source:

10 Our biggest customer recently mandated open source tools. They said jump, we asked how high. Thankfully it wasn't that high.

9 No one buys out developer tool companies unless they are either open source or very, very sexy. The great personality thing just wasn't cutting it.

8 SaaS tastes yummy when sprinkled with open source.

7 After flogging the hell out of SaaS, PaaS, and the cloud -- our sales department needed a break. Open source sells itself.

6 The new owners of Sybase: "Servoy-who?"

5 We believe in open source, we've been involved in open source for years. And we especially believe in the open source that we don't pay for and the open source that you do pay for. Win-win for us-us.

4 We've decided that we really do love all three-and-a-half of you Servoy developers. Here's the open ticket system, faster bug fix releases, more thorough upcoming feature testing, transparency from us, etc. -- that you've been asking for for years. Now please go forth and multiply. 

3 We've come to the realization that our pricing structure is incomprehensible. We don't remember if we did this intentionally or not but two additional pricing choices should clear things up. If not, here's the number for Servoy Sales....

2 Attract shower-avoiding parent's-basement-dwelling Java programmers. We know you're out there and we need you. (Memo: the iPad thingee is just a temporary fad with no camera.)

1 Build a vibrant Servoy developer community. We could have blown up the antiquated SAN program and given the recently anointed "developer liaison" a job description that involved liaison-ing with developers. But why exert ourselves when open source is community-in-a-can: just pop the lid.

Comments (10)

Bob Cusick
David, An excellent job of bitching and being cynical - as usual. I don't see any HELPFUL anything in this post... just a rant. Now, I totally believe in personal expression (please, hello - it's ME) - however, every now and then - you should consider using your most excellent knowledge of the platform to try to HELP - not just vent. You're obviously are bitter - which is too bad. However, if you just keep complaining about things without offering alternatives - and being willing to be PART of the solution, my personal opinion is that you should keep your vehemence and cynicism to yourself - and become an Objective C developer - as they could use some criticism and sarcasm as well. There's plenty of tools and videos and books and all the documentation you so obviously require in a platform... So - best of luck - we'll all be sorry to see you go. Bob Cusick Clickware
David Workman
Damn, which one(s) did I get right? :) With this as your announcement: "Announcement of the year: SERVOY GOES OPEN SOURCE!!" if you don't hit it out of the park I think a bit of sarcasm is allowed. As far as helpful bits go, you'll find a pretty comprehensive list <a href="http://www.servoy-stuff.net/blog/index.php?entry=entry100204-035050">here.</a>
Harjo Kompagnie
David, I'm sorry, but I totally disagree with you! This is not sarcasm anymore, just ranting/throwing out YOUR frustations and NO help, building a community! Harjo Kompagnie Direct ICT
Gordon McLean
David, like Harjo, I totally disagree with you! Its a great pity you are channeling your frustrations in such a way, its neither constructive for the community or a great reflection on you/your business. Gordon McLean Click Digital
Mark Kellenbeck
Common guys give David a break. His cyniscism seems pretty healthy to me. Every healthy community needs an honest skeptic. Thank you David.
Servoy Stuff
Yes Mark, I also think that David is very gifted at playing the devil's advocate. And at least we're having a laugh! :)
Martin Gomez
Man, and I though that being frustrated was one of the "Unique Servoy Experiences". You really take it to another level... seems like you hate the tool wich pays the bills.
Scott Butler
So, David, you haven't posted anything on this site since October 20, 2008, and now you post something complaining about lack of community involvement? Kind of ironic don't you think :) You also seem to forget that Servoy CHOSE to go open source. They weren't pressured, or desperate. They did it because they think that is the best long term decision for the platform as Jan Alemen as outlined in several interviews and posts. So, they take years of hard work that they invested into, and open source it for the rest of us...and all you can do in complain about documentation and planning. On a personal note, you have a lot of talent and were once a respected developer in the community. Too bad you seem to throw all that away with your lack of community involvement, constantly complaining on the forum and anywhere else you can get people to listen, and now posts like this on your site. Its just been an ongoing downward spiral. Seems a bit self-destructive. I hope you take a moment to step back and review the situation while it isn't tool late to make corrections. (and I'm not just talking about this one post. You have a history of this type of stuff) I think the Servoy community will eventually evolve to the point that everyone hopes it will become. The question is whether or not the community will allow you into it if you continue your downward spiral of descent.
David Workman
1 "Community involvement." Bob's <a href="http://forum.servoy.com/search.php?author_id=38358&sr=posts">forum posts</a>, your <a href="http://forum.servoy.com/search.php?author_id=846&sr=posts">forum posts</a>, my <a href="http://forum.servoy.com/search.php?author_id=16&sr=posts">forum posts</a>. 2 I'm not "complaining about documentation and planning," I'm floating an oil tanker down the gap between the <a href="http://forum.servoy.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=14156">expectations Servoy set</a> and <a href="http://www.servoy-stuff.net/blog/comments.php?entry=entry100607-000842#comments">what Servoy delivered</a>. This discrepancy has become a noticeable pattern. (Considering I <a href="http://www.kabootit.com/home/2007/07/commentary-file.html">pegged Filemaker</a> for EXACTLY the same thing, I'm guessing there's a few Filemaker people struggling right now not to suffocate from laughing.) 3 My "constant complaining" -- if that is how you choose to characterize a small percentage (read posts above) of pointed criticism -- started shortly after Servoy 5 was released six months ago. Not a coincidence. 4 There was a very good reason for icing Servoy Magazine a couple of years ago. (Hint: where's the stampede of <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=servoy">Servoy related sites</a> springing up all over the place?) 5 "You have a lot of talent". Thank you. I do believe that as a team here at Data Mosaic, the Servoy 5 release is directly responsible for us logging the <a href="http://powazek.com/posts/2454">10,000 requisite hours</a> needed to achieve true Servoy genius. 6 "Once respected developer". Maybe...if you own Servoy stock (show of hands please). 7 I don't believe it's a question of "whether or not the community will allow you into it", I think it's a question of "will Servoy eventually figure out how to deal with criticism." Without like -- attacking the critic personally instead of addressing the content. Bottom line that I think all of your developers agree on: slow down and release stuff in a MUCH more polished state. Servoy is an amazing product. But the widening cracks in expectations, quality and delivery have created significant pain points for those of us on the front lines. I am not making this up.
Mark Kellenbeck
Interesting the choice to personally attack the messenger vs. address his concerns. I continue to watch Servoy from a distance no longer pursuing it as an appropriate platform for our needs, given its slippery slopes for all but the very talented and dedicated; and honestly it cost. That said I do respect its accomplishments and the distance it has traveled in a relative short time.