[Cialug] Choosing Open Source for Businesses

[Todd Walton]

InformationWeek published an article about how businesses can guide
themselves through choosing open source software that won't fail.  The
article is called "How to spot a successful open source project".
Below is a sidebar list of things to look for.  Seems pretty spot-on
to me.

-todd

================================
A THRIVING COMMUNITY
A handful of lead developers, a large body of contributors, and a
substantial -- or at least motivated -- user group offering ideas.

DISRUPTIVE GOALS
Does something notably better than commercial code.  Free isn't enough.

A BENEVOLENT DICTATOR
Leader who can inspire and guide developers, asking the right
questions and letting only the right code in.

TRANSPARENCY
Decisions are made openly, with threads of discussion, active mailing
list, and negative and positive comments aired.

CIVILITY
Strong forums police against personal attacks or niggling issues,
focus on big goals.

DOCUMENTATION
What good's a project that can't be implemented by those outside its
development?

EMPLOYED DEVELOPERS
The key developers need to work on it full time.

A CLEAR LICENSE
Some are very business friendly, others clear as mud.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
Companies need more than e-mail support from volunteers.  Is there a
solid company employing people you can call?