NH OSS.
I was perusing the wiki entry on the HB1197 meeting (http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Www/HouseBill1197), and noticed something: Many of state's applications are mainframe based, most likely no similar packages. I'm not agreeing, I'm not disagreeing. But here's an interesting data point: About a year ago, I sent $100 to the dep't of state, asking for two months' worth of newly incorparated company filings. A couple of months go by, I get nothing. A couple more, I try calling. I even visit. Nobody says anything. Finally, I get my wife to call -- she actually speaks with the person involved: apparently, they switched databases from mainframe to something else (my guess: SQL Server on XP), and hadn't been able to run reports since then. Would you like your money back? I *STILL* haven't received said lists. Which makes me wonder if: a) The vendors are even kinda-sorta competent, and b) if there may not be mainframe-side stuff that OSS could offload onto Linux boxen at huge savings... IF the OSS vendor could actually -- successfully -- replicate the mainframe application's functionality. Stuff for you database/etc., gurus out there to consider. -Ken ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: NH OSS.
On Thu, Jan 26, 2006 at 08:14:25AM -0500, Ken D'Ambrosio wrote: Many of state's applications are mainframe based, most likely no similar packages. Which makes me wonder if: a) The vendors are even kinda-sorta competent, and b) if there may not be mainframe-side stuff that OSS could offload onto Linux boxen at huge savings... IF the OSS vendor could actually -- successfully -- replicate the mainframe application's functionality. In the meeting, this was discussed: the above note was not There is no way that it could be replaced with open source, but rather, There is most likely no complete solution to the problem already available. The former is almost certainly untrue (barring patents/proprietary interactions which can not be duplicated without consent of the vendor), but the latter is almost certainly true: I highly doubt that there are many people out there who have built high-capacity Health and Human Services transaction storage mechanisms, or what have you. The problems that a state needs to solve are oftentimes niche problems with no information on the solution required available to the public at large that is open source hackers. However, I am sure that given a list of requirements, most solutions could be duplicated in the open source world, especially if there was an incentive of cash to throw at it. So, the next step for evaluating that is the next step that the HB will be taking: Get the IT people in there to explain 1. What htey have and 2. What they need. -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: NH OSS.
One thing I've noticed.. Government employees HATE change and will fight it tooth and nail. Example: Goffstown, NH (where I grew up and was very involved) upgraded the registration process for cars to computer. Before they would use typewriters. The staff was fully trained and given quick guides along with manuals. For over a -YEAR- people would come in. The same trained people would get confused, pull out the full manual, and take FOREVER to find the answer. For a while they would even just go back and do it with the typewriter. They did this to protest against the new computer system, because they didn't like it. Eventually they hired a new person due to another leaving, the new person used the computers and ran circles around the others. Because they started looking bad, they finally got it and did it correctly. Ken D'Ambrosio wrote: I was perusing the wiki entry on the HB1197 meeting (http://wiki.gnhlug.org/twiki2/bin/view/Www/HouseBill1197), and noticed something: Many of state's applications are mainframe based, most likely no similar packages. I'm not agreeing, I'm not disagreeing. But here's an interesting data point: About a year ago, I sent $100 to the dep't of state, asking for two months' worth of newly incorparated company filings. A couple of months go by, I get nothing. A couple more, I try calling. I even visit. Nobody says anything. Finally, I get my wife to call -- she actually speaks with the person involved: apparently, they switched databases from mainframe to something else (my guess: SQL Server on XP), and hadn't been able to run reports since then. Would you like your money back? I *STILL* haven't received said lists. Which makes me wonder if: a) The vendors are even kinda-sorta competent, and b) if there may not be mainframe-side stuff that OSS could offload onto Linux boxen at huge savings... IF the OSS vendor could actually -- successfully -- replicate the mainframe application's functionality. Stuff for you database/etc., gurus out there to consider. -Ken ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: NH OSS.
On Thursday 26 January 2006 08:27 am, Christopher Schmidt wrote: The problems that a state needs to solve are oftentimes niche problems with no information on the solution required available to the public at large that is open source hackers. However, I am sure that given a list of requirements, most solutions could be duplicated in the open source world, especially if there was an incentive of cash to throw at it. So, the next step for evaluating that is the next step that the HB will be taking: Get the IT people in there to explain 1. What htey have and 2. What they need. Isn't this basically the purpose of the Government Open Code Collaborative? (http://www.gocc.gov/) This is the collaborative started by MA, RI, and a bunch of other states to essentially create a repository of solutions software for government, just to fill this void. Perhaps NH should be influenced to join the collaborative if they are having problems of this nature? There may not be a need for this stuff by anything but governments, which of course forces governments to outsource it or pay for the development. But there's no need for every government to essentially develop the same things independently and infinitely be confined to inventing rounder wheels. -N ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
Re: NH OSS.
On Thu, Jan 26, 2006 at 08:41:55AM -0500, Travis Roy wrote: One thing I've noticed.. Government employees HATE change and will fight it tooth and nail. s/Government employees/People/ Especially as it relates to technology. -- Christopher Schmidt Web Developer ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
