gnue/docbook/articles swiss_article_1.txt

[Neil Tiffin]

CVSROOT:        /home/cvs
Module name:    gnue
Changes by:     Neil Tiffin <address@hidden>    01/09/10 10:53:14

Modified files:
        docbook/articles: swiss_article_1.txt 

Log message:
        Add to rough draft.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://savannah.gnu.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs/gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt.diff?cvsroot=OldCVS&tr1=1.8&tr2=1.9&r1=text&r2=text

Patches:
Index: gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt
diff -u gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.8 
gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.9
--- gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt:1.8       Thu Sep  6 22:13:31 2001
+++ gnue/docbook/articles/swiss_article_1.txt   Mon Sep 10 10:53:14 2001
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@
 
 Then Mr. Harvard remembers that he has heard about some success stories
 in free software; GNU/Linux, KDE, gnome, apache, PostGreSQL, and MySQL.
-But these are just tools.  He wonders how can I run my business on
-free software.
+But these are just tools.  He wonders, how can I run my business on
+free software?
 
 GNUe Man sits down and starts to explain about GNU Enterprise, a set of
 business tools and applications that automate business functions like
 Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain.
 
-<need something here>
+<TODO need something here>
 
 These functions are pretty standard in the Enterprise arena, so what
 separates GNUe from other Enterprise Applications like SAP, PeopleSoft,
@@ -266,39 +266,38 @@
 
 Will lets begin with some typical problems.  We already know about the
 cost issues and paying fees without receiving value.  What happens when you
-call customer service.  Do you get a knowledgable quick answer to your
+call customer service.  Do you get a knowledgeable quick answer to your
 questions?  Mr. Harvard shakes his head, only when we finally get the
 right person that has the right information.
 
 Right, so if you are in a real pinch, you have to wait.  With GNUe and
-open software in general they give you all of the information you need
+open software in general the developers give you all of the information you 
need
 to fix the problem yourself.  All the source code. All the build
 instructions.  All the documentation. What if my staff does not have
 time to learn enough to fix the problem.  Then you can call a GNUe
-consutant.  But most likely, you will get a developer when you call and
+consultant.  But most likely, you will get a developer when you call and
 not some entry level student.
 
 So free software does not rely on students?  GNUe makes good use of
-students, but unlike a propritary software vendor you will know when
+students, but unlike a proprietary software vendor you will know when
 you are dealing with a student because of the open nature of the
 development and support process.  Where student are used they are
-usually involved in very focused areas and working under the guidence
+usually involved in very focused areas and working under the guidance
 of a senior member of the GNUe team.
 
 Are GNUe staff paid to work on GNUe and if not, how can I count on
 someone being available to answer my questions? Good question and there
 are several issues at work here.  GNUe relies on industry standards, so
-the solution to your problem my not necessaryily require with the GNUe
+the solution to your problem my not necessarily require with the GNUe
 team.  There is access to many people working with these standards plus
-the many people working with GNUe.  For example all communications
+many people working with GNUe.  For example all communications
 between client and server in multi-tier uses standard CORBA 2.3
-functionality provided by ORBit for the server and tested with
-several different ORBs in the client.
+functionality provided by ORBit for the server.
 
 In addition GNUe has developers in Europe, Australia, and the United
 States. This means that someone is on-line on the GNUe IRC channel 24
 hours per day and usually 7 days per week.  Our response time to solve
-problems has traditionally been veery quick.
+problems has traditionally been very quick.
 
 Very impressive, says Mr. Harvard.  But what about fit for my business
 and technical infrastructure.  GNU Enterprise is structured to support
@@ -306,17 +305,17 @@
 
 The two tier version consists of form designer, form client and report
 client connected to an SQL database.  Currently GNU Enterprise supports
-PostGreSQL (as preferred database), MySQL, Oracle, and DB2.
-Incidentantly, DB2 support was contributed by IBM Europe. The two tier
+PostGreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, and DB2.
+Incidentally, DB2 support was contributed by IBM Europe. The two tier
 product is designed to support rapid prototyping and building of SQL
 based solutions for small and medium size businesses.  Many examples
 exist in the distribution including contact manager, purchasing, etc.
-The two tier is the most mature part of GNU Enterprise.
+The two tier version is the most mature part of GNU Enterprise.
 
 The main business applications in GNU Enterprise are developed around
-our multi-tier solution.  This includes Supply Chain, Sales, and
+our multi-tier solution (GEAS).  This includes Supply Chain, Sales, and
 Accounting. The GNU Enterprise team is in the process of integrating
-Bayonne for telephoney applications and double choco latte for web
+Bayonne for telephony applications and double choco latte for web
 access into our server. This will allow access to all GNU Enterprise
 business objects from any telephone, fax, or web appliance.
 
@@ -324,6 +323,63 @@
 The only difference this that the client uses a different the GNU
 Enterprise GEAS driver (CORBA) instead of an SQL server driver.
 
+The main reason to use multi tier version is the scalability and
+object oriented nature of the business objects.  The business objects
+are designed to be easily mixed and matched with GNUe or 3rd party solutions.
+
+Eventually GEAS will support multiple databases with load balancing
+and other sophisticated mutli-tier functions.
+
+<TODO more expaination of GEAS>
+
+<TODO not bloated, configure and use only what you need>
+
+<TODO homogenous environments are to be expected and that
+part of a 'real' solution doesn't require changing everything to 'gnue'
+gnue's goal is to run with what you have be it windows, mac, linux,
+unix, etc.>
+
+<TODO explain currency and multi-lingual core business objects>
+
+So GEAS really does fit by business, but I just don't understand why
+people would continue to support free software if they don't make any
+money from it?
+
+There are really three types of businesses using GNUe.  The first is
+the small business.  Small businesses used GNUe because they do not
+have the money to buy a proprietary solution and generally adapt the
+business to GNUe.  They reep the benefit of the work of larger
+businesses and consultants.  This model helps small business by
+providing competitive software and rates they can afford.
+
+The second is a large business.  They use GNUe because they don't like
+being locked into proprietary software. Large businesses can make a
+small investment in GNUe by providing small amount of resources. They
+get in return a package that considers their needs and costs much less
+that if they wrote it themselves.
+
+<TODO explain the downside of proprietary software>
+
+The third type of business includes consultants.  Free software is an
+excellent product for consultants because they can provide paid support
+when the business needs it and the business does not pay any on-going
+fees if they can't afford the fees or do not need support.
+The business is also free to develop their own in-house support if they
+desire.
+
+<TODO In all
+honesty actual support costs should be very similar.>
+
+<TODO clarify this>
+
+<TODO 1211 words so far>
+
+Free software is really targeted at companies that are frugal with
+their money and want to retain the maximum amount of freedom with
+regard to control and support of their information systems investment.
+
+The real difference is the lack of license fees, the ability to have
+all source code, the ability to control support fees,