Hi Rogan, I'll just chime in because I am familiar with the folks at Userful and I can verify that they use open source software in their commercial products but are not themselves an open source project. They seem like a good group who have found a library niche but it isn't about open source per se. They use open source software as a cost saving mechanism more than as part of a philosophical position.
That said, I know nothing about this (presumably) new product of theirs. Lori Ayre On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 4:34 AM, Rogan Hamby <[email protected]>wrote: > I looked at the web site but saw several things that made me leery about > them. With that said I would love for there to be a good open source > solution for this and would be curious as to your experiences. Indeed, I > would love for my concerns here to be groundless. > > > > I didn't see any libraries listed as using Pre-Book. All their > testimonials are for their closed source products. Their compiled downloads > on their webpage have been offline for updating for a month or more now. > The page (whose copy right hasn't been updated to 2009 much less 2010) says > that you can download the binaries and source at sourceforge - including the > full live CD install server and window client. I haven't downloaded it but > at 500K I have serious doubts about this. I don't care how streamlined your > server is, if you can fit all of its components (OS, etc...) and a Windows > client in 500K tar gzip file you've accomplished a not so minor miracle. > > > > They say that it supports SIP and LDAP but no only don't have documentation > for SIP integration but say that you must contract with them. Documentation > is sparse. I don't fault them for pushing the pricing and hiring them model > of things since they're a business but I don't have the impression there is > a community around this - you can say anything is open source so long as you > fulfill some licensing requirements - that doesn't mean you have the > community around it that a huge project like Apache or medium size one like > Evergreen has. > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Chad > Teal > *Sent:* Thursday, December 31, 2009 10:05 PM > > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Evergreen Integration with UserFul Pre-Book > > > > The library I work with is currently looking at PC Reservation options and > I'm curious if anyone has used Pre-Book. I'm in the process of downloading > the install now but noticed that they require paid support for custom > integration with ils software. Any input would be greatly appreciated. > > -- > CT >
