The world of open source software is an active and constantly changing one. Trying to include up-to-date information about the full range of open source projects, programs, and installation procedures in hardcopy form is like trying to capture time in a bottle. Even trying to select a manageable number of technologies, and representative applications from each technical area, is a difficult task. As we go to press, if we’re confident of one thing, it is that there will be readers who flip through these pages and say, “How could you leave out Program X?” To all the developers and users of such programs, our apologies. We have tried our very best to describe at least the basics of a reasonably broad range of those technologies and applications that seemed to us most applicable to Oracle developers and DBAs. We hope that if you disagree, or if you simply want other Oracle readers to know about other tools, you will take the time to write to us (see “Comments and Questions” later in this preface). We’ll do our best to respond and to share what you say with other readers by providing information on the book’s web site.
In addition, because the world of open source development is one of constant activity, we hope you will consult the URLs we’ve provided throughout this book (summarized in Table 1-2) for more up-to-date information than we can hope to provide in this printed book (we’ll also try to keep the URLs current at the O’Reilly web page for this book). Remember, too, that what we describe in this book is only the tip of the iceberg. We have tried to select the best Oracle-related open source software for inclusion in this book, but we hope that more and even better software will be available in the future (maybe even some developed by our faithful readers). You can keep up with Oracle open source development by checking the following sites frequently:
- Oracle Technology Network (OTN)
OTN is an Oracle Corporation web site for developers, filled with an expansive and diverse range of online documentation for just about every Oracle Corporation product. If you’re not already registered on OTN, you may have to set up an OTN logon and password in order to read some of the documents there. This is a quick process and well worth doing.
- SourceForge
SourceForge is a free service for open source developers that offers access to online development services, mailing lists, message boards, and everything required for full web-based administration of your open source projects.
- Freshmeat
Freshmeat maintains the Web’s largest index of open source software and is the first port of call if you’re looking for specific applications, reviews, or anything else open source-based. Think of SourceForge as the code factory and Freshmeat as the marketplace.
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