Google....friend or foe?

[jmadero]

Hi All,

So, Google...friend or foe to the Open Source community? The delay of getting Chrome on Linux is really irritating me, that's what sparked this I know Chromium is out, I have the daily build but...months have passed, what the hell is taking so long to get a stable Chrome release out?

[GNU-Fan]

Neither friend nor foe for me.
I know this company would sell all my secrets to the world if I entrusted it with them and if it got any financial benefit from doing so. Therefore I can never consider this company my friend.

To be fair, I have never taken any hostility from them either.
To me, it's just a stranger who never has given me a reason to trust or to hate him.

I think it is kinda the same with the FOSS community. We don't have any illusion about them having only noble goals. But if they annoy the other entrenched software monopolies, why not watch and enjoy the show?

[reed9]

I say friend. But you know, one of those complcaited friendships, where you sometimes wonder whether it's healthy or wise, but at the end of the day, decide its worth the effort.

KS2009: How Google uses Linux [LWN.net]

[Charles4809]

I voted friend. They do more than others to benefit Linux and Open Source. Even if they do it for there own good, that's not illegit. Being trusted in all aspects is a different story.
Charles.

[fguy64]

I put down friend. I like their minimalist approach to software and web applications. I get a lot of mileage from my Google account. The O/S delays don't concern me too much, It's not like the delay is messing up my plans or anything. I'm sure when it finally comes out they will do a good job.

I don't really have any big worries about privacy of information with Google, any more than I do with any other company I do business with, or with some of my friends or family members for that matter. Naturally I won't put personally sensitive information on any one else's computer, but tht is just common sense. Frankly I have more concerns with ISPs than I do with Google.

[daark.child]

I voted "friend", but agree with reed9's comments.

[a12ctic]

Google is a big scary corperate company, their goals and their programs probably aren't something a traditional open source comapny would have. However, I think its good that they are embracing open standards. Google is and already has brought open source to the general public, which is a good thing.

I guess they're probably a friend.

[techieMoe]

If I had to categorize them, I'd say they're more of a Lando Calrissian. Neither the greatest friend of FOSS nor their greatest enemy.

[schwim]

I don't think you can categorize it under either. It is simply a large corporation, without a conscience or moral compass. It does what it does to make more money and it will allow absolutely nothing to get in the way of that. If your needs are met during that process, then you are all set. If not, then you're SOL.

I use GMail to consolidate all of my mail accounts, which I use during travel. I use it because it is inarguably the most feature rich webmail system out there. I've no doubt that my data would be handed over to anyone requesting it if they made enough fuss and I decided to trade my security for the convenience. After all, I've no doubt my server hosts(where the original copies of the mail reside) would do the same. If you fully embrace the technological revolution, privacy is a token buzz word that companies use to make you feel better. It doesn't really exist.

[elija]

Unsure as I haven't made my mind up yet. Privacy concerns aside, I think the Big G' is yet to bare it's teeth.