The Uncertain Future of OpenOffice.org

eldavojohn writes "What's the biggest threat to the success of OpenOffice.org? Is it Microsoft Office? Is it the simple fact that Dell doesn't offer it with computers? Not according to some participants in the 'open' source project itself, they say the biggest problem with OO.o is the fact that Sun codes, owns & makes all key decisions for the project when it should be more community oriented. A professor who participates in the project itself said 'enough developers are frustrated by both the technical and the organizational infrastructure at OpenOffice.org' and cites this as 'a real problem that is weighing on the project.' Other members of the community agree like Michael Meeks who asked 'At what fraction of the community will Sun reconsider its demand for ownership of the entirety of OpenOffice.org?' Hopefully with IBM's entrance into OO.o participation we will see the product become more community controlled & accessible. Has anyone else experienced this when developing for OO.o or another 'open' source project? Is it a good idea to criticize a company when they've put so much effort into a project that is technically open source and completely free? Is Sun trying to control OO.o like Java? Do they have good reasons or evil underlying intentions?"

In order...

[KingSkippus]

Not continually improving both feature- and UI-wise, yes, no, around 3/5, yes, yes, probably, and both.

Now that we've cleared that up, anything else I can help with?

naw

[mevets]

Sun will contribute 35 managers...

So would they call it...

[Anonymous Coward]

OpenOffice.ne--- nah, didn't think so.

Re:In order...

[shawnce]

I think that wraps this thread up... direct and to the point... well done.

oh please please change the name

[Anonymous Coward]

Come up with a product name which doesn't sound like a URL when you say it. The current name makes me look like an idiot that is answering the wrong question. Next worse thing would be naming your kid "Ten Years Old".

LOTUS SMARTSUITE?

[davidsyes]

This is why IBM should find a way to resurrect and rejuvenate Lotus SmartSuite, particularly Lotus WordPro, Lotus Approach, and Lotus 1-2-3.

Re:Dont think so.

[trolltalk.com]

or OfficeWeasel?

Kind of has a ring to it ... sort of like calling Major Frank Burns (M*A*S*H) ferret-face.

Sun gets bad press because of...

[denver38]

....their crappy strategy the last couple of years:
http://origin.arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.media/sunstrategy.gif [arstechnica.com]

Re:Dont think so.

[Penguinisto]

Nononono - if we're gonna fork the thing, let's give it a good and proper name:

OfficeSpace

I mean, lookit: the clueless would look and go "oooh, cool name - space to do my docs n' stuff!"

The rest of us will simply giggle when we get asked why the app suite insists on showing a red stapler on the splash screen.

/P

Re:Dont think so.

[Anonymous Coward]

Gotta have a "Jump To Conclusions" Easter Egg built in.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Hopefully...

[j-pimp]

Hopefully having 35 full time developers at IBM contributing code back to the project will really help this situation. OO.o is great software and I'm quite happy with it

Adding more people to a late project will make it later.

Re:Dont think so.

[minvaren]

...and the default template in the word processor is the "TPS Report Cover Sheet".