How can mixed stacks be cost-efficient? Wouldn it be better just to go completely open source?
Rosenberg: Both you and the stack vendor want to keep the cost down, so you will both use open source components at the bottom. The OS will be open source. As you move up the stack, look for open source components that will do the job. As open source and commoditization move up the stack, it becomes easier to find such components. The components that make the difference and give you a significant ($) business advantage are at the top of the stack. If these components are really cutting-edge and confer a significant benefit, they are very likely proprietary (if everyone could have them for free, how would they give you an edge over everyone else?). If they really earn you more money than free components would, then they are worth paying for. Or you could build your own high-level, advantage-giving components. Then no one else would have them. Do you have the in-house developer power to do this? Once again, you are facing the same decisions as the stack vendor. The stack vendor is going
