By skoop
via myles.eftos.id.au
Published: Mar 21 2008 / 04:05
I’m a professional web developer, so it goes without saying that I’ve seen my fair share of off-the-shelf open source web applications. I’ve also seen my fair share of web design companies take these applications and modify them up the wazoo to fit with clients requirements… Well, sort of. It is probably more likely that the sales staff have managed to convince the client that their requirements should fit in with what the open source project does. On behalf of all the web application developers out there who get lumped cleaning up the mess: STOP IT.
Comments
jp0p replied ago:
I mixed about his opinion. I feel he is correct when it comes to some open source platforms (*cough joomla, mambo, zencart), but there are some great products that solve many of his complaints. Also, I've used several commercial platforms that are just as bad and usually worse than many open source options.
ddelponte replied ago:
My take on it... this guy is a misguided web developer trolling for hits on his new blog.
stecrv replied ago:
Really, Your company application works better? and how much cost? What your customers need? how much can they spend?
you must take care of this question before say "suck" or not, because I can do the perfect application for billion dollar, but how many people can acquire it? and a lot of web app are very good, you post is very generic and accusations without culprits just suck...
dzonelurker replied ago:
It's only about some PHP CMS'.
regis.decamps.info replied ago:
It's hard to see a single valid point in this article
1. With custom code, when a new developer comes in, he has to waste a lot of time learning the application. With open-source, there is a chance he already knows it. At least, there is a community of developers. With a commercial app, you can't guarantee the code, and have even no way of guaranting it.
2 making change is always asking for trouble, even with a custom app
3. yes OK. Then throw everything and start from scratch
4. software editors are even more narrow minded. You bought something, so don't expect new features.
5. have you ever heard about submitting a patch?
6. I don't know what he is talking about
7. Quite true. But can you maintain the doc of your custom app on date? How much does it cost? And about commercial app, I can quote some which don't have doc at all
8. yes sure. Like with any app. And maybe you don't clompain about commercial software because you don't see the mess within
9. Community support is sometimes better than commercial support. And many companies offer paid suppoort for OSS software
dcaravana replied ago:
I'm very sorry to say that, even if your points are valid for very old things like osCommerce or Xoops (I know very well the former and maintaining it it's like hell), your post seems more a rant against free software ("free" like in beer) because you hate the bad guys that are stealing what should be work for you good "professional web developer"; please take the time to study newer web applications before firing on all open source web apps (next time use "some" or an adjective like that in your title ;) ). I'm also a "professional web developer" and I can assure you that I hate something in my work, for example things like osCommerce or collegues that are convinced to be "professional web developer" but instead are producing things like osCommerce (hint: the problem is not "open" or "closed" source).
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