Mapserver - Autodesk: hostile takeover, merger of equals or what?

[Andre Karp]

Thanks for the replies and further contributions, here some thoughts and
remarks:

Steve Lime <steve.lime at DNR.STATE.MN.US> wrote:
> There is no intention to merge codebases, not that it is even possible.
> There are possiblities to share ideas > and even pieces of code though. I
> personally plan to continue to focus exclusively on MapServer for the  >
> freseable future.

This is great, maybe I was too stupid, but the thought of a merge of code
and, subsequently the disappearing of the original Mapserver really worried
me, and it still does worry me.

Daniel Morissette <dmorissette at DMSOLUTIONS.CA>  wrote:

> I don't think anyone suggested that you or anyone should switch, but it
> would be wise to give it a try before assuming that it's no good.

Maybe its my genetic german pessimism, sorry for that. I cannot, like e.g.
Paul Ramsey, evaluate the code contributed by Autodesk, since I do not have
any knowledge of that. But I do have some years of professional experience
working with GIS software, and from that point of view there is nothing to
make me think: "Oh great, the superior Autodesk code is made available to
the open source community.." Since the product "MapGuide" was not
competetive, well, the code cannot be a great gift to the community, can it?

However, I did not intend to refuse any kind of cooperation, but , as I
already said, I got the impression of mapserver being usurped by Autodesk.
This impresssion was also driven by media reporting things like "Autodesk
provides web mapping software to the open source community" . (german press
release from Autodesk:
http://www.autodesk.de/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=403786&id=6189327&linkID=4986961)
Thanks you so much, Autodesk, but
WHO is contributing WHAT to WHOM? It's just the other way round, isn't it?


Paul Spencer <pspencer at DMSOLUTIONS.CA> wrote

> some comments inline for those that care to read a rebuttal.  In
> general, most of the issues that you raise have been discussed
> extensively on both the mapserver-users and mapserver foundation
> discuss lists, and on IRC.  You will find folks coming down on both
> sides, but I think the general sentiment expressed in both these
> emails is based on some mis-understandings of the original announcement

I tried to work through the discussion on the mapserver list (which in my
opinion is the place where this topic should be discussed) and probably I
missed some things (e.g. the re-re-naming announcement, it was soooo
small!).

> I would really suggest that you try it out before making the
> assumption that it is like any other software experience you have
> had.  You may find that you are surprised.  Or not ;)

Well, maybe I should try it indeed, but to refer to ones experience is
something quite natural, isn't it? And, to mention this, especially if this
experience derives from working with some of the widespread commercial GIS
software (including Autodesk MapGuide), which is not really a funny thing.

>It is interesting to be discussing open source software with the
>following disclaimer in your email ... that's a pretty closed license
>on your comments.  Wow ... am I even allowed to quote them or respond
>to them?

Paul, this disclaimer was not part of my original posting, don't know how it
got there, so no need to be sarcastic




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Best regard,
Andre Karp