At 02:30 PM 7/31/2000 -0500, you wrote:

>"iBase" is perfect. It sounds like the generic version of Interbase.

Most of the names I have seen coming down the line have had the "base"
suffix which reminds me (and probably many others) of xBase style
databases. If Inprise continues to keep the Interbase name to themselves,
I think it will be important to include SQL in the name to highlight the
fact that this a SQL based database engine. My favorite that I've come up
with so far is OpenSQL.

As to whether a fork of the Interbase code should occur or not, I'm still
undecided. From what I have seen as an outsider, it seems that Inprise
went into this with the best of intentions to create a killer open source
project and make some money and create some reputation for themselves. As
time went on, and the details became clearer (and the IPO market calmed
down), it sounds like it became apparant to Dale (or more likely his staff)
that the arrangement was going to cost more than it would ever make. The
fact that Dale was still optimistic about closing the deal, as recent as
Borcon, tells me that he sincerely wanted to do what they had originally
planned, but when it came down to it, Dale has a job to do and that's to
make money (not cost money) for Inprise. Whether he was right or wrong in
this case, I'm glad he's the type of fellow that is willing to change his
mind for the sake of the company or we'd all be talking about Corel
Interbase right now (shudder <g>).

As a community, we should figure out the best possible destination and work
with Inprise to get there. Name calling and bad mouthing (as was going on
over at www.interbase2000.org) will only serve to make this more difficult.

Here's what we need to ask Inprise: Support based income is very expensive
(i.e. manpower and time) and will probably never be as attractive as an
income generator when compared to selling software (which is nearly pure
profit after the development investment). Since Inprise was not willing or
able to concentrate enough effort on a software income-based Interbase,
will they be willing or able to dedicate the necessary resources for a
support income-based Interbase? If ISC still wants to do this, let's help
them convince Inprise (in a positive manner, please!) to contract with ISC
to provide the technical support for them (for 5.6 to 6.0 and beyond).

If Inprise is not willing to work with our community, then we don't have a
choice but to fork, but that path is much, much more difficult so we should
attempt to work with Inprise if we can for the good of Interbase.

Jim Gunkel
Nevrona Designs