Re: Minivend vs Others Options

[Raj Goel <frostbit@brainlink.com>]

On Mon, 5 Jul 1999, Birgitt Funk wrote:

> ******    message to minivend-users from Birgitt Funk <birgitt@minivend.com>     ******
> 
> On Mon, 5 Jul 1999, Raj Goel wrote:
> 
> > ******    message to minivend-users from Raj Goel <frostbit@brainlink.com>     ******
> > 
> > On Mon, 5 Jul 1999, Minivend wrote:
> > 
> > > ******    message to minivend-users from "Minivend" <mvend@fizbin.com>     ******
> > > 
> > > >  Our technology is in use at various places, including a few large 
> > > > sites.
> > > 
> > > That's nice. Could someone actually provide URLs and specifics, instead of
> > > the usual vague 'few large sites'.
> > > 
> > > Pretty please?
> > > 
> > > Harry
> > 
> > 	Love to, but contractual obligations prevent us from doing so.
> > 
> > 	Some companies prefer not to advertise they use MV, PERL, etc. on
> > their sites.
> > 
> 
> Yep, that's why it should be documented, i.e. given proof on a site
> which is under the umbrella of the documentation project of MiniVend.
> 
> Would love to know with what argument those companies come up to
> justify their contracts they set up with you.

	It's quite simple, really.  In your email, did you list, this email was 
generated by <pine/eudora/outlook/whatever>?  Nope, and no one really does.

	Why?  Because it isn't important what tool was used to create the
end result.  The exceptions are, where your contractual obligations require
you to acknowledge the tool, i.e., movie contracts where a software or hardware
firm will give hardware/software/services in return for onscreen recognition.

	Secondly, while MV advocates, including myself, would like others
to  acknowledge the use of MV, it is in the corporation's best interest
NOT to disclose such information.  
	- Less attackers know about you, less they can use to break you
	  (weak argument, but security through obscurity has a long history)

	- If something works well for you, why advertise it?  
	  The less your competition knows about YOUR best practices,
	  the more likely they'll make bad choices.  

	- Flexiblity
	  If you don't know what I'm using, I can change the backend, and
	  may do so, as business needs require.  No one tool/software/product
	  is perfect.  MV works wonderfully today,  Tomorrow brings no such
	  guarantees.

> On the one side they seem to love to take advantage of a no-cost,
> open source software package, apparently being happy and successfully
> running it with the help of your consultancy, and on the other side 
> they should have a valid reason NOT to say/admit what they used ? I
> just don't understand that logic. Can someone help me with that, please ?

	Some of the companies, spent large $$$ building an alternative 
solution, and saw the light later on.  Others have a legal mandate to
treat corporate data infrastructure as a corporate secret.

	Oh, and quite a few of them give back to the OSS community by
donating cash, resources, developers or supporting the authors.  I know
I'm happy to bring Mike in when needed and am happy to pay his per diem
rates.


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