[Qgis-developer] Cloudflare for qgis.org sites

[Alessandro Pasotti]

Sorry, I always forget to reply to the list..


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alessandro Pasotti <apasotti at gmail.com>
Date: 2012/10/31
Subject: Re: [Qgis-developer] Cloudflare for qgis.org sites
To: Larry Shaffer <larrys at dakotacarto.com>


2012/10/31 Larry Shaffer <larrys at dakotacarto.com>:
> Hi,
>
> On Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 1:55 AM, Alessandro Pasotti <apasotti at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 2012/10/29 Larry Shaffer <larrys at dakotacarto.com>:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> The recent downtime of qgis.org sites reminds me of several corporate
>>> websites I've worked with that, due to design requirements, needed to
>>> remain with older server software and code base. The older sites could
>>> not handle the bot traffic, and needed extra up-front security and a
>>> cdn system to remain viable as their traffic grew.
>>>
>>> I've been involved with Cloudflare.com shortly after its inception
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> It sounds very very interesting but unfortunately they run closed
>> source proprietary software, even if is SAAS I would stay away from
>> that.
>
> Alessandro,I don't understand what you mean 'unfortunately' here. If
> their service is non-FOSS, what bearing does this have on the project?
> I don't see how it would create any licensing issues, either.
>
> The service they provide is a global internet utility, like the
> proprietary software on much of Cisco's hardware, or storage solutions
> like Amazon S3. While I fully understand the desire to be 100% FOSS,
> I'm not sure users of the sites will care, if the sites stay up; or,
> that a FOSS alternative can even approach what Cloudflare (or another
> commercial solution) has built.
>
> What's wrong with paying for (or possibly getting for free) a
> proprietary product if it provides a solid solution on top of existing
> infrastructure?
>

Technologically speaking: nothing.

Politically speaking: something.

Mine was just a personal opinion: some of us dedicate a lot of energy
and efforts to promote FOSS solutions, I know there are many different
point of views about this topic, I just wouldn't use a service
advertised as "Our proprietary technology .... "
(http://www.cloudflare.com/features-cdn) in the context of an OSS
project.


--
Alessandro Pasotti
w3:   www.itopen.it