Comments on: CAD/PLM On The Cloud and Vendor Lock In

By: olegshilovitsky

olegshilovitsky — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:33:45 +0000

Tom, Agree with you – open data and open source are related but not equivalent. Open source can compensate the data openness, but system better need to built data open bottom up. Thanks for your comments! Best, Oleg

By: Tom Gill

Tom Gill — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:36:44 +0000

I agree that open data is more important than open source, but, having source access can also provide the “how” and “why” of the data.

By: olegshilovitsky

olegshilovitsky — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:25:27 +0000

Allen, I agree, open source can add another vector of flexibility to your PLM solution. However, open source flexibility cannot cross-compensate “open data”. Best, Oleg

By: Allen

Allen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:54:45 +0000

Yes, “open source” is not the key point, “open your data” is the first step, “open source” may be the second step.

Bentley provide DGNLib for reading and writing DGN files.
Autodesk provide DWG API for reading and writing DWG files.

The advantage of “open source” is that you can build your own software on a high level platform, shortern the development cycle and get the high quality. “open source” system need to open its data first.

By: olegshilovitsky

olegshilovitsky — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:34:01 +0000

Tom, Thanks for the link. I found it, indeed, interesting… On your second point- I think the movement of data is very complicated. The key is not if you have “open source” or not. They question is how your system is open to get data in/out. Thanks for your comments! Best, Oleg

By: Tom Gill

Tom Gill — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:06:44 +0000

Hi Oleg,

I just found this article about a google initiative that aligns pretty well with this topic.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/03/why-google-makes-it-easy-to-leave-google.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

or http://tinylink.com/?naNi8mu7Fh

This is another advantage of Open Source PLM software as you have better access to the data to move it somewhere else if necessary.

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By: olegshilovitsky

olegshilovitsky — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:37:45 +0000

Guy, Thanks for your insight and comments! I agree with you. In the case of no-customization and SaaS delivery to support migration between version is a much simpler task. However, it won’t eliminate vendor lock-in. And the problem is data migration as you mentioned. The absence of API and customization can be an excellent way to lock data inside and elimination customer migration process to another solution. There are multiple examples in non-PLM software in on-demand / SaaS space that can prove this assumption, in my view. Best, Oleg

By: olegshilovitsky

olegshilovitsky — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:43:34 +0000

Allen, Thanks for comments! Agree, CAD exchange, visualization and storage on the cloud can change the status quo. However, availability and licenses can be a key. Today CAD files can be sent to anybody. However, lock-in still in place… My view is that the real game changer can be to find a way to be more open. Best, Oleg