Intuit joins the Linux revolution

Intuit has been sniffing around open source for at least a year now, but predominately as a platform (Linux) upon which its applications could run. It opened the door a bit more in April when it opened up QuickBase to developers, but now seems to be paving the way for a more complete launch into open source with its Linux Business Resource Center.

Yes, that Intuit. Promoting Linux and open source.

Intuit has had little to fear from open-source solutions creeping into its business and further commodifying its market, which makes its proactive push around Linux all the more laudable. I doubt that many of its customers currently use Linux. Perhaps this is a way to try to encourage its 25 million strong QuickBooks user base to adopt the open-source operating system?

Indeed, Will Bryant from Intuit's PR team noted to me that "the site also acts as a forum for new users interested in Linux to learn about the operating system and answer common questions associated with moving to an open-source system." Intuit the open-source evangelist?

Maybe. Intuit is actively seeking companies that use open-source solutions to power their businesses with a new contest:

We are looking for businesses that are using some form of open-source software. Your entire end-to-end solution doesn't have to be open-source; you can use other proprietary software components to assist you, as long as the bulk of your creativity stems from open-source solutions. So get your creative juices flowing!

Again, Intuit is not yet offering its own products under an open-source license. But this encouragement of the open-source ecosystem around its products is interesting, and smacks of lessons learned from watching IBM. Perhaps it's the start of something much bigger in open source for Intuit. This is, after all, almost exactly how Novell initially got its feet wet in open source eight years ago.

What's next? SAP actively promoting open source? Pigs are starting to sprout wings. :-)

[all-usernames-in-use]

I used to work on one of Intuit's apps (run on Red Hat, as I recall). They were happily outsourcing all kinds of crazy stuff. So I'm guessing that taking the open source angle is calculated to help them make acquisitions without paying for anything. Like software development. Intuit's support is already outsourced, so this would make them even more of an aggregator.

[linux_kid]

Intuit endorsing Linux?? Wow, that's a first.....I'm glad they're finally realizing the value of having an open-source product....and I like the fact that they've developed an open Linux community instead of heavily marketing their own products......I hope this inspires other companies to give Linux a shot

[linux_kid]

Intuit endorsing Linux?? Wow, that's a first.....I'm glad they're finally realizing the value of having an open-source product....and I like the fact that they've developed an open Linux community instead of heavily marketing their own products......I hope this inspires other companies to give Linux a shot

[bbneo2]

Now if only next years Turbo Tax will come in a native Linux version (or at least a version that works well under WINE).

[hescominsoon]

I jsut want their stuff to RUN under Linux both on the server side and client side. I have several clients that hte only hting ty9ing them to linux is quick*.

[jhansonxi]

Quicken Loans uses Linux and Solaris internally IIRC. They have an office in Detroit and I've seen job postings for Linux/Unix admins.

[joe_attaboy]

What a bunch of tools.

I have vivid memories, years ago, of being a big advocate of IBM's OS/2 as an alternative to Windows. We ran Warp servers vice NT at my job site, and I had a few desktops happily humming along with the client version. I used Quicken back then, and actually wrote a letter (remember letter writing?) to Intuit, asking them -- no, actually pleading with them -- to consider developing an OS/2 version of Quicken, which I happily volunteered to beta test. Their reply was polite but firm: "our primary concentration is in the Windows platform." Or, translated: " What, are you nuts? OS/2? Go away, geek."

Now all of a sudden, they're interested in FOSS. There can only be one explanation.

They smell money.

And I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that Linux version of Quickbooks or TurboTax.