Comments on: Russia and Cuba: Together again, this time for open-source software

Russia and Cuba want to get rid of pesky Yankee software in favor of open-source software.

[jrepenning]

Freedom from American imperialism hasn't bought Cuba much in the way of economic success ... but then, that was always the shackle and sword of American Imperialism, anyway. Cuba, like China, India, Viet Nam, Japan, and quite a list of other nations, is searching out their own brand of economics, and Open Source software seems to be a powerful tool for them all. I'm a little worried, actually, abut Russia in all this: they seem the most closely tied to the Euro-American economic model, at best defining themselves in some sort of contrast or opposition to it rather than finding a unique expression. When the developing countries have developed, I hope Russia isn't left chasing someone else's dream.

[pzeml]

I am not sure why such sarcasm! Or, yeah, it is because the only "smart" people who can create software worthy of anyone's attention live in the US. And, of course, in order to be classified as "important," a news event either has to take place in this country or be "noticed" in this country. Was this writer in dire need of something to blog about this morning?

[Matt Asay]

Not at all. My sarcasm was focused on the communist past of the countries, not on their ability to write software.

[marcobw]

Matt, maybe you should move to Russia or Cuba. The US is a capitalistic society...if you don't like it, leave...and take you Mac crap with you!!!

[The_Decider]

LOL @ you

[Matt Asay]

Have you ever read a single post I've written? I work for money, my friend. 11 straight quarters of growth at Alfresco. I'm not about socialism, my friend. I think I was the one calling the GPL the ultimate capitalist license a few years back.

[fred_g_sanford]

Interesting but..
Are they going to develop software for use in Cuba or for export?

[Pete Bardo]

marcobw, Move to Russia or Cuba? Mac crap? Capitalistic society? What are you talking about?

Too many people think that if you don't like what's going on in the US, you should move! Hey, if you don't like it, it's your duty, responsibility and right to change it!

[williamlouth]

Come on deep down we all know that Matt really wishes to be "an evil software capitalists" when those same "evil software capitalists" buy his company.

[Matt Asay]

I will confirm that statement. I am an evil software capitalist. And I would love for someone to give me a truckload of money.

[The_Decider]

There is no reason they can not write and support their own software. Most American software companies produce crap anyway. It doesn't matter if we notice or not. What kind of BS is that anyway Matt?

The notion that they can't is the same wayward thinking that caused the silly and pointless encryption export restrictions. I suppose American arrogance is so high these days that Americans think of the rest of the world as cavemen.

Like most areas, quality programming in the US is in decline, and is improving around the world.

[Matt Asay]

I didn't suggest - even remotely - that they can't write their own software. Reminder: I wrote years ago (and have stressed it repeatedly since, most recently at a conference in Russia) that open source is a great way to create local software economies, rather than shipping rubles to the US.

I was just mocking the legacy of communism (which I don't think has anything to do with open source - I'm an open-source capitalist).

[alegr]

Everybody praise the Mighty Lord Dick Stallman!

[The_Decider]

Wow, how original and insightful...

[abeetley]

RE: "American software companies haven't been able to sell into Cuba for decades (though many probably do, anyway)"

Just wanted to make it clear that American software companies do not, nor have ever, sold their products in Cuba. The U.S. embargo started in the early 1960s before any substantial computer technology was being marketed. If you click on the link in the article where it says "though many probably do, anyway" you'll see an article from last year that mentions that things like Nike and and Coke are sold in Cuba in spite of the embargo. i won't get into a long explanation of why that is. But rest assured the only U.S. computer technology that Cuba has got through due to smuggling or donation, and there is not too much of either. Anyone who's been to the island could tell you that it is very much behind the ball in terms of computer technology.