Today I was invited on “The Money Channel” at their Sunday “IT&C Show”. The topic: open source.

I had an interesting discussion with two smart gentlemen. I told them about how my company uses various open source solutions and how we selected them. During the discussion two interesting aspects of the open source world came to our attention.

Open source vs. world

As a CIO I was asked countless times: “Do you use open source software?” I don’t see the point of this question. I am not using a development model. I use specific solutions, specific pieces of software, chosen based on their merits.

When I analyze a potential solution it is never “open source versus Microsoft Windows Server” or “open source versus Lotus Notes”. I always compare “Linux versus Windows Server” or “sendmail versus Lotus Notes”. One cannot compare a development model with a specific piece of software.

The Che Guevara selling methodology

There are many “Che Guevara” in open source community. They come waiving flags and preaching about changing the world. They are convinced that only open source revolution can avoid the …. (fill in the blanks with your favorite apocalyptic scenario).

I can only tell them that I don’t want to save the world; I only want a decent solution to my IT problem. Corporations want solutions to their problems. The “suits” usually left world rescue to Mattel super heroes.

Don’t came to corporate speaking like a knight on a white horse. Please come armed with NPV, TCO and ROI weapons!

PS: I am a BIG fan of open source solutions! I am only sad when I saw attitudes that create bad perception about very good solutions.