open source code

Ten worst entry IT jobs

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

It may sound grand to work for Google, Amazon, Facebook, Yahoo or other well-known companies, but there are many first-time jobs in the IT field that are not as glamorous as they sound.

Valleywag, a tech gossip blog, has compiled a list of what it calls Tech's 10 worst entry-level jobs. The company job descriptions are intriguing at first glance and may help build a resume, but the reality for bright young tech hopefuls getting these entry level positions may be sitting day-in and day-out in a windowless cubicle creating more efficient text ads or taking phone calls from angry customers.

To read what's on the worst job list:
- see this valleywag.com article

For more tech stories from the FierceCIO network:
> Microsoft's multitouch technology. Article
> Open-source code defects declining. Article
> AT&T offers free Wi-Fi to some customers. Article

Google to update Android SDK

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:59:54 -0500

In theory, Google's Android could be the perfect mobile platform for the enterprise. Being based on open-source code as it is, Android would theoretically allow enterprises to build custom apps for their mobile fleet (though the OS's openness ultimately appears to rest in the hands of the carriers, not Google). So it's encouraging to see that after initial complaints about the less-than-developer-friendly nature of the SDK, Google is making a few changes. "Based on the great feedback you've given us, we've made significant updates to the SDK that we'll be releasing in several weeks," developer advocate Quang Nguyen writes on the official Android blog. In the post, he hints at "forthcoming UI and API enhancements" and also reveals that the deadline for the Android Developer Challenge will be extended to accommodate the update.

For more on the SDK update:
- see this post on the Android Blog

Is open-source security good enough?

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Some believe that because open-source code receives more scrutiny, it's more secure. But it's more complicated than that. While heavily used and actively maintained open-source applications like Apache and OpenSSH probably receive a great deal of scrutiny, smaller applications or applications that are not as actively maintained probably have not. By the same token, commercial software vendors vary as well; some are actively committed to making sure that their source code is thoroughly tested and audited whereas others aren't. Some also believe that the contractual relationship between purchaser and vendor in typical commercial software licensing arrangements provides a degree of accountability not present in an open-source context. But it depends. In some cases, open-source developers provide paid support relationships for projects they maintain for users that need it; in other cases, non-affiliated third parties provide support for the open-source tools. And many open-source products are very open about making available answers to previously asked questions via mailing list archives and/or Web sites. Also, open-source products usually issue security updates as needed, while commercial vendors make patches available on a set schedule. At the end of the day, it depends on your enterprise and the particular projects and products in question.

Read more about open-source security:
- read the article at TechNewsWorld

ALSO:
- read this on the danger of open-source
- and this on making open-source attractive to business

The danger of open-source

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Using open-source code to help develop new software sounds like a great idea, but beware. If developers uses a piece of code that has been distributed under the GPL, for example, the entire piece of released code that includes the GPL code has to be distributed under the GPL. That means your developers can come up with the next "killer app", but just as it's gaining steam, a competitor may point out that all of your code has to be covered by GPL, which means it has to be made available to anyone and you can't apply restrictions on the redistribution of that code. You can't really prevent your developers from using pre-written reusable code chunks, because it reduces time to market. And you can't ensure that all code is held against a copy of the license and then distribute each chunk under its own license separately. It's not viable. A small company, Black Duck, may have a solution. It provides a capability for code to be searched at both a string matching level and at a pattern matching level to identify code that has come from an environment where the code is licensed. It can then flag all of these pieces of code and ensure that the developer or legal department is aware that this may raise issues. The developer and/or organization concerned can then make a decision about whether the overall code should go under a specific license, get packaged separately from the open code to maintain the fidelity of the commercial code, or to replace the code with in-house code to bypass the possible ramifications of the other licensed code.

Read more about the caveats of using open source:
- read the article at IT-Director.com

ALSO: read this about Sun following through on its open source promise

Open source trend makes software affordable

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

As more vendors opt to switch to open-source code, the cost of software is dropping, making it more accessible to CIOs of smaller companies with tight budgets. The draw for vendors is wider adoption of products, greater company loyalty and shorter sales cycles, which increases productivity. On the other hand, open-source apps also appeal to corporations looking to lower cost and simplify modifications.

Read more about this trend:
- check out the article at SearchCIO
- And more here at eWeek

ALSO NOTED: Acquisition cements Microsoft's foray into security services; New threat index for wireless devices; and much more.

Mon, 22 May 2006 20:01:33 -0400

> Acquisition cements Microsoft's foray into security services. Article

> A new threat index for wireless devices. Article

> Good progress being made in stopping software piracy. Article

> In Australia, one-in-five company networks infected with rootkit. Article

> Microsoft launches open source code site. Article

> The advent of the wireless VoIP phone. Article

And Finally... A peek at the next mobile revolution. Article