Marco Tech Blog

May 31, 2006

DevCo, InterBase, and Firebird

I'm really hoping that DevCo finds a smarter way to live along with Firebird... rather than pretending to ignore it.

Let's make things clear up front. I've been a fan of InterBase (a database really ahead of its time and still ahead of many of its competitors) and I've grown very fond of Firebird, a database I use more frequently than InterBase these days. Same architecture, plus an open source project (really and fully open source, unlike MySQL) that's alive and kicking. And it's free, and this can help. Both provide a great back end for Delphi client/server applications and for many other languages as well. Small footprint and minimal multi-OS installation make it look so much better Microsoft's recent free SQL Server Express... but I digress.

Now what triggered this post was a rather cryptic message in non-tech by Ivan Cruz titled "Bridges are being rebuild?" and containing only a link to the last post by Malcolm Groves about the coming Australian Delphi Users Group meeting. The reason is that the event sees a speech by Helen Borrie, of Firebird book fame, and Malcolm praises her presence. Now this is a very subtle clue about a possible change in the relationship between the InterBase crew (part of DevCo) and its open-source twin.

However, this will certainly be an interesting test of the openess of DevCo to its own community. It was Borland that open-sourced its own database. It is Delphi developers who are using Firebird in large numbers. There were personal fights in the past, but this was in the past. I fully agree it is now time to rebuild this bridge and find a way to collaborate for the developers of the two tools (to the benefit of their user communities, which in reality is a single one). I don't know exactly how, but anything would be better than just ignoring and occasionally bashing each other!

posted by marcocantu @ 0:58AM | 6 Comments [0 Pending]

6 Comments

DevCo, InterBase, and Firebird

I have posted similar comments in my own blog,
reproducing an email that I sent to DevCo guys
recently. You can check the post here:
http://blog.firebase.com.br/?p=43

Comment by Carlos H. Cantu [http://www.firebirdnews.org] on May 31, 03:28

DevCo, InterBase, and Firebird

 The choice to ignore Firebird at all costs has 
definitely hurt Borland's credibility, and the mere 
presence of Firebire deeply undermines any value 
left in Interbase.

Why pay for Interbase when Firebird is free and 
rapidly advancing with features that make it 
preferable in many cases (create or alter is a 
WONDERFUL operation)?  How do you value Interbase 
for sale while Firebird is competing on terms that 
Borland could never hope to match?

It is obvious why Borland tried to pretend Firdbird 
doesn't exist, but I seriously doubt that DevCo has 
the same luxory here, as any potential buyer is 
going to have serious questions, and any attempt to 
shut firebird down would alienate a LOT of people, 
so that's probably never going to happen.

No, I expect to see Interbase fade and an alliance 
with the Firebird team built in its place.

And long past time for it if you ask me.

Comment by Xepol on May 31, 06:04

DevCo, InterBase, and Firebird

Firebird has growing user base, but it's missing
support by large and trusted company. 

DevCo will be large company, with expirienced
managment, developers, R&D... But it needs user
support to survive. 

DevCo should support Firebirid, donate some code and
share some ideas. And Firebird will create market for
DevCo.

It's clear - even from my desktop.

Comment by dmajkic on May 31, 11:42

DevCo, InterBase, and Firebird

Hi Marco,

Obviously I can't speak for everyone in the company,
but personally, part of what excites me about Devco is
that it's a chance for a fresh start in a whole bunch
of areas. I would much rather focus on the realities
of the market today, and what we can do to help
customers be successful within those realities. If we
do that, then Devco will be successful. It's a waste
of energy to be focussed on what happened and who said
what to whom in the past.

Oh, and thanks for helping promote the ADUG Symposia.
 Why don't you come? Australia isn't THAT far away ;-)

Cheers
Malcolm

Comment by Malcolm Groves [http://blogs.borland.com/MalcolmGroves/archive/2006/05/29/24986.aspx] on June 2, 04:26

ADUG Symposia

Malcolm,

I appreciate your clarification. I was invited to
Australia for the event this year, but had family
problems, maybe next year!

Comment by Marco Cantù [http://www.marcocantu.com] on June 3, 07:55

DevCo, InterBase, and Firebird

The season for change may be nearing, but it sure 
isn't here yet.  I just attended one of 
the "Developer Studio 2006 World Tour" world tour 
events, spending several hours in the presence of 
Anders Ohlssen.  (There's a <a href 
="http://www.thecodecave.com/article155"  
title="Impressions of the Developer Studio 2006 
World Tour">write up</a> of it on my site if you're 
interested.)  

During the session, the progression from BDE through 
DataSnap to ADO Data Providers was discussed in 
detail.  Several times, Anders provided a list of 
databases you could connect to through ADO. 

Firebird was conspicuous in its absense.  

Not once was Firebird mentioned.  I beleive it would 
have been the height of impropriety to ask if there 
was a Firebird ADO.  Which, of course, <a 
href="http://firebird.sourceforge.net/index.php?
op=devel&sub=netprovider" title="The Firebird ADO 
data provider on SourceForge">there is</a>.

It's a shame and as far as it goes, very 
uncharacteristic of Borland (at least the Borland of 
the past)...

Comment by Brian Layman [http://TheCodeCave.com] on June 4, 06:22

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