Joel (joel.hruska.delete@this.gmail.com) on August 1, 2012 4:43 pm wrote:
> Paul A. Clayton (paaronclayton.delete@this.gmail.com) on August 1, 2012 3:18 pm
> wrote:
[snip]
>> The fear of such actions may make Free Software more
>>attractive.
[snip]
> I can't possibly see how. What would be the FLOSS alternative
> to Oracle's databases?

I meant "make Free Software more attractive in general" not specifically with respect to Oracle-provided software nor even more specifically with respect to the dropping of Itanium support.

I receive the impression that most of the attraction to Free software recently has been the cost reduction. (More technical types might enjoy the ability to examine and even modify source code. More people might appreciate the ability to install software without approval for a purchase order.) Oracles actions may make some of the less pointy-haired of bosses better appreciate the value of not being locked into a single vendor's offering.

Even for the enterprise software that does not currently have Free alternatives, the incentives to support development of such software may increase. In addition, there may be some move to use Free software modules (or configuration templates) that abstract some of the interface with the propriety software. The ability to more easily port such modules to a different platform (a benefit of open source both for the modules and the platform) could significantly reduce migration costs if a Free alternative to the platform becomes available.

I think destroying trust in software vendors tends to increase the perceived value of FLOSS (and open interfaces).