Open-Source Soft{ware,drink}: "OpenCOLA" 87
Rahoule writes: "The National Post reports that a Toronto company will release the first open-source cola with its open-source software: 'Steelbridge Inc. will announce today it [will] develop openCOLA, a new software program which automates the selection, discovery, and evaluation of Web sites.'"
FAQ question
2.2:
"Ain't this just a publicity stunt?" Answer: "Sure. But ..."
They describe an interesting-sounding distributed Napsteresque Web crawler, but there's just one thing missing from this open-source project: source. "You'll start seeing code after Labor Day," says today's press release.
riiiiiiiiiiiiight. (Score:5)
BTW - i'll be open sourcing my ass next week for all of you who'd like to get a look at it. I figure if i get enough venture capital and go IPO/Open-Source with it, i'll be able to make millions off it. (Yes, that's pronounced GNU/Ass)
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
This is all we need... (Score:1)
"The official beverage of
Didn't we just see this? (Score:2)
-Earthman
"Cola" flavoring is... (Score:2)
At least that's what I've read in published "decompilations" of the sodas. The label will be interesting, but then who knows how close it'll taste to the Real Thing.
Missing source (Score:1)
Not a surprise - would YOU want your first rough are-you-sure-we-can-do-this cut at the code exposed for the universe to dissect? I think NOT...
At least they give a date... if they were a game company (or M$), I wouldn't expect anything from them until sometime in 2002....
Slashdot strikes again (Score:1)
Heh, the source isn't even availible yet for this product.
Why is this here?
duh (Score:1)
All I can say is (Score:2)
-
Open Source Food is a Good Idea (Score:4)
Mmmm... washing down your yacc and perl onion stew with a glass of OpenCola.
Their "Legal" Page Is Hilarious (Score:5)
To quote
Or this little gem in the boilerplate:
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of openCOLA! It could quench the thirstiest finite-element analysis researcher!
Just two questions: (Score:2)
- Does it have as much caffeine as Jolt, and does it taste as good? (Hey, I like Jolt. Deal with it.)
- Since the recipe's open-sourced, I presume it's OK to grind up a whole mess of No-Doz or other caffeine supplement to make something even better than Jolt, right?
(Mmm, all the sugar and twice the caffeine of JoltAnyone catch the similarities... (Score:2)
To quote one of their pages
Gnutella-type technology is taking over the world - woohoo!
Other Open Source Food Ideas (Score:3)
The world may never know...
--
Have an OpenCOLA and a Smile! (Score:1)
openCola(TM) is a Cola style softdrink that will be produced and distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
That just sounds so messed up, it just might work!
The FAQ is here: http://steelbridge.com/softdrink.html [steelbridge.com]
It's a shame though....According to the article, the only way to GET the cola is at trade shows, conferences, and the like. No going down to the Gas Station and picking up a copy--ahem, Can. (Although wouldn't that be SO COOL?!)
-- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?
what is the advantage (Score:3)
I do like the idea of Perl scripts on the can. Though I would put actual working scripts that do something useful rather than "cute" scripts.
nojw
If you want to haiku, do it right! (Score:2)
[7]and a dollar will get them
[5]open cola can.
Re:Slashdot strikes again (Score:2)
Umm... you obviously haven't noticed that this article is from the it's funny, laugh department?!
Man, you people take Slashdot too seriously.
---
A peer to peer network, eh? (Score:1)
Why?
Because if they are a success and pull down a couple billion dollars real fast, it'll grab the lawmakers' attention. They, as we know, tend to value money over most everything else. Therefore, in a lawyer/lawmaker's mind, these must be good guys. If they read in Newsweek that this super-hip (cooler than the Gap) and totally legit tech is a cousin to Napster and Gnutella, they may realize that banning "Technologies Related to Napster" may be a bad idea.
Of course, I may be wrong. If so, I hope these guys go the way of Linuxcare.
openCOLA, the ultimate conspiracy (Score:5)
I can picture a friendly-looking moustacioed nerd passing out cans of openCOLA...
Nerd: Want some free openCOLA?
Kernel Hacker: Is it free like "free speech" or like "free cola"?
Nerd: Umm... both, I guess... just try some...
Kernel Hacker: Does it have lots and lots of caffeine?
Nerd: This stuff makes Jolt [joltcola.com](tm) seem like rainwater in comparison!
K.H.: Is that normal rain or acid rain?
Nerd: Just try it. Come on... the first one's free... everyone's doing it... don't you want to be '1337?
K.H.: Not particularly... but that stuff sounds powerful... lemme try some...
Nerd: (snickering, hands over a can)
K.H.: Ahhhh... this stuff is goo-- URRk! (Plop! The poor Kernel Hacker falls to the ground...)
Nerd peels off fake moustache revealing that he is actually Bill Gates.
Bill: Mua ha ha ha! That's what you get for writing xbill back in college!
A Large, Bald Goon (Ballmer?) drags the corpse of the poor hacker away, then eats it.
Cola gives me gas (Score:1)
Time for my medication again...
Mixed drinks and alternative beverages (Score:1)
But if you create mixed drinks with openCOLA, you have to distribute your entire formula! That darn GPL strikes again!
And what about those people who don't like cola. I'm going to announce my new beverage here and now for non-cola drinkers, and it will be called...
(you have to see this one coming from a mile away)
openJAVA!
Re:Didn't we just see this? (Score:1)
Gene, InfraSearch Founder
Re:Their "Legal" Page Is Hilarious (Score:3)
Image is nothing. Source is everything...
numb
FEED THE HYPE MACHINE (Score:1)
Re: You don't want to miss this one!
Geez, guys. Forget the stupid cola, did any of you read the article? This looks like Google on wheels to me.
Who cares how many times some other person has viewed a page? Has anyone tried to search for something specific on Google? NADA.
Even if this distributed links deal works, who would give up their surfing privacy to participate in something like this? Do you have to click on some annoying button every time you go to a page that is "interesting"? Will the OPENcola guys get a huge archive of excellent pr0n sites? (Will this be such a bad thing?)
I think they have a WAAAAY lot more thinking to do before they continue. Heck, these guys make actually want to get someone with a computer-related degree to help 'em out (oh, I forgot: they have YOU
Good luck boys. Wake me up when you have something I can chew on.
You should all live in russia (Score:1)
Assuming the process does not require a chemistry set large enough to have the goverment think you are setting up a serious drug lab.
TastesLikeHerringFlavoredChicken
a little history of the coca in cola (Score:2)
Re:Have an OpenCOLA and a Smile! (Score:1)
You can always make your own build. I hope they include the Makefile.
Fh
root beer? (Score:4)
Re:what is the advantage (Score:1)
Microsoft Will Rip It Off (Score:1)
I'm sure some enterprising young geek can get their hands on the recipe and post it on Slashdot. After all, what could they do to us?
;)
-W
Open Cola? Isn't that what the tabs are for? (Score:5)
1. Most Cola comes pre packaged closed to keep contaminents out of the can.
2. An Open Cola is more susceptible to doing harm by "bad" people who poison it. It is less secure than closed cola. (This statement paid for by Microsoft)
3. An Open Cola is more consuming on resources, and management, as improper handling techniques could lead to an unexpected spill, leak, or even crash. Closed Cola somehow magically circumvents this effect.
4. Open Cola is, by it's very nature dangerous stuff. Due to it's high citrus and sugar content, it can and does regularly damage teeth. It is also carbonated, which could allow for the unexpected to inhale through the opening, and suffocate. Closed cola, while also carbonated, high in citrus and sugar content, and generally no better than Open Cola, cannot be tested as thoroughly, due to the restricting "One Tab" EULA agreement vendors place on their customers.
5. An Open Cola is more apt to go stale quicker than a Closed Cola. Unless, of course, you enact the EULA of the Closed Cola.
krystal_blade
Fatboy Slim -- (Score:1)
It's good to know that someone is reading the fine print.
#!/usr/bin/perl (Score:1)
open(COLA, "cola") || die "No cola for you: $!";
if (/rumourTrue/) {
print "Good god this is dumb\n";
}
-------------------------------------------------
Re:Other Open Source Food Ideas (Score:2)
Determined by an "independent lab" to be four spices and no herbs.
Recipe for Big Mac Sauce
*AHHHHCHOO!* - *splat*
The Method for Filling Twinkies w/ Creme Filling
Black magic.
The precise number of licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop
*CRUNCH*
ok, my jokes suck...so shoot me:)
If it's open source (Score:1)
while ($nitpick) { &complain; } (Score:1)
Re:riiiiiiiiiiiiight. (Score:1)
Re:what is the advantage (Score:1)
---
Gentlemen, start your fud engines... (Score:2)
Corporations aren't going to use openCola because there is no technical support for it. There is nobody to hold liable if the tab comes off of the can or if the contents explode when shaken.
If you choose to go with openCola you are putting your compatibility in jeopardy. Your current cups, straws, pitchers, and other serving devices have not been certified by the manufacturer to be openCola compatible and using them with openCola may void their warranties.
Re:Open Source Food is a Good Idea (Score:2)
Big diff between trashed partition tables and trashed kidneys..
One good thing.... (Score:1)
At least the article uses the correct definition of "hackers" !
Yeah, sure. (Score:1)
Re:"Cola" flavoring is... (Score:4)
~luge
Re:while ($nitpick) { &complain; } (Score:1)
bigmac special sauce (Score:1)
pimply employee: We need more special sauce! go put some mayonaise out in the sun.
be careful, sometimes I don't finish my sent...
"A witty saying proves nothing." -Voltaire
Re:Eminem says (Score:1)
And, yes, those are the actual words. I overheard an interview with Eminem, where he thought it was funny that, just because he was constantly insulting "faggots", the world thought he was homophobic.
Publicity stunts aren't limited to OpenCola. Maybe we'd like a little OpenHipHop?
Re:what is the advantage (Score:2)
That's absurd. I don't want to make and sell my own softdrink. I can compile my own code just fine, but it's hard for me to create softdrinks in my garage.
"It's too sweet, I think I'll start a cola company." doesn't work.
the true drink . . . (Score:1)
Just a couple of notes (Score:4)
That should read "will be brewing up a few thousand cases of cola." It's not ready yet.
National Post: Open Source is a model of software development in which the creators release the source code to a product for free and encourage others to share it, copy it, and modify it, with the caveat that it cannot be sold.
I'm still wincing from reading this, and that was hours ago. I am certain beyond doubt that nobody at the company told them that.
National Post: ...John Henson, the 24-year-old chief technology officer...
John is 27. He only acts like a 24-year-old.
I thought food already was open-sourced... (Score:2)
Now all I need is a compiler and I'll be all set.
Food is a *great* analogy for open source (Score:1)
Recipes for food works qutie well as such an analogy. Anyone with the recipe and some minimal resources can reproduce the product. Those with some skill in cooking can improve/modify it. And once it's out there, no one can stop those activities.
In that vein, I think that it's cute that they're working on the open-source cola in tandem with openCOLA.
But I bet that the perl scripts on the can will be more useful than the recipe.
Re:while ($nitpick) { &complain; } (Score:3)
> after $sip, not after the brace).
As the programmer who thought up this script, I thank you for the
feedback. At this point, I'm not sure if the error was my oversight,
or a typo which got introduced by the printers. I'll try to get
this corrected.
I would also like to point out that technically there was no error.
I can assure you that we've tested the code, and it ran fine.
To prove that this wasn't simply because it wasn't getting to that
line for some reason (and that the printers hadn't accidentally
changed the code after testing), I modified the script for debugging
purposes:
#!/usr/bin/perl
$sip = "Slurp\n";
$colaRemaining = 1;
$reallyThirsty = 0;
open CAN, "excitedly"; join ($can, $mouth);
while ($colaRemaining > 0)
{if ($reallyThirsty) {$chug;}else {print $sip};}
dump IN_RECYCLING_BOX; IN_RECYCLING_BOX:
return;
This ran the correct output:
Slurp
Slurp
Slurp
(etc.)
Apparently, Perl, with it's famous TMTOWTDI (There's More Than One Way
To Do It), allows the programmer to leave out a semicolon in a
brace-enclosed single line (such as '{print $sip}'). Of course the
following ';' between the braces--while doing no harm--has no function.
> Oh yeah, and what's the point of a scalar without a context of any
> sort (aka the $chug and the $sip)?
Unfortunately we were unable to create functions that convinced our
test-computers to actually drink, so we had to put up with scalers
which only gave the "impression" of drinking a can of openCola.
Re:Didn't we just see this? (Score:1)
About the only difference I can glean aside from the soda is that Gnutella calls client/servers servents whereas Steelbridge calls them clervers. I like servents.
ToiletDuk (58% Slashdot Pure)
Re:riiiiiiiiiiiiight. (Score:3)
The Linkage (Score:3)
=)
Pablo Nevares, "the freshmaker".
Comment removed (Score:3)
Re:root beer? (Score:1)
Re:"Cola" flavoring is... (Score:2)
Just in case you were interested.
The downside is... (Score:1)
Good Marketing Idea (Score:1)
Re:riiiiiiiiiiiiight. (Score:1)
Look? That's not open source! If you want to call your ass open source, you must truly open your buttocks. Looking is nice, but you also have to give people the right to touch it, modify it, copy it (Xerox), and redistribute the copies - all for free. I'm so sick of companies and people who use a "look but don't touch" license, and then call it open source!
the COLA acronym is all wrong... (Score:1)
"The acronym COLA, incidentally, is more an inside joke. In a pamphlet he wrote about the project, Mr. Doctorow says COLA could stand for Collaborative Object Lookup Architecture or Cory On Lotsa Acid or Cows Orbiting at Low Altitude"
Shouldn't it be "COLA object Lookup Architecture", or something like that? Anyone? Bueller?
--
hrm (Score:3)
Red Hat Orange Soda (Has an automatic "twist off" and is very easy to drink with it's non-drip opening. All focusing on selling to large business because it has a good distrubation system)
Slackware RootBeer 7 (Comes in a glass bottle without any whimpy twist off cap. You have to use a crowbar to get it open. Not sold in cases, only sold in single bottles, this rootbeer don't have a package system. Because package systems are for the weak.)
Turbo Cola (jolt rip off, note the "TURBO". Comes with the cans "soldered" together so you have to drink 6 at a time. Very usefull for large thrist)
SuSE Green Juice (each case contents 6 times the cans of that of a normal case. Has more soda per case than any other openCola distrubation manufacter)
OpenBSD Cola (Comes with a combination lock based on 1 of 2 million differant encodings instead of a pop top or twist off cap.)
Debain LemonLime (Packaged and distrubated by volentars to the project. The drink is free, but you need to bring you own cup)
Coral Grape (The company used to compete head on with the softdrink giants (Coca-cola, pepsi), but moved it's drink over into OpenCola project and is going on the attack again with an easy to use "twist off")
Solaris Blue (Claims to be OpenCola, but isn't really. Due to a length license agreement printed on the inside of the can, the ink makes the cola near toxic to most indivuals.)
SlashCodeCola (Ever time you ask for the formual it automatically closes the can and you have to wait 24 hours before taking another drink)
Bring Back OK soda (Score:2)
Re:"Cola" flavoring is... (Score:1)
The plain fact is, dozens of companies have "duplicated" Coca-Cola. There's only one problem. None of them taste like Coca-Cola.
Let me ask you this; could you bake a cake if all I gave you was a list of ingredients?
Well, perhaps you could, if you were a master cake baker, but it wouldn't be just like mine unless you also followed my exact procedure for handling the ingredients and baking them.
ingredients?? (Score:1)
Re:riiiiiiiiiiiiight. (Score:1)
you walked right into that one.
Tootsie Pop (Score:1)
BTW, the flavor was cherry, which may or may not affect the outcome.
I did this when I was 11. I was bored. Don't look at me like that.
Re:while ($nitpick) { &complain; } (Score:1)
A perl statement must end in a semicolon unless it is the last statement in a block (Camel, 2nd ed., p. 96). The 'single line' is, by definition, the last statement in the block and so the semicolon can safely be omitted. For instance, the script runs fine if you substitute
{if ($reallyThirsty) {$chug}else {print $sip}}
for {if ($reallyThirsty) {$chug;}else {print $sip};}
ai731
--
Re:Bring Back OK soda (Score:2)
OK soda was awesome! From the avante-garde comic labelling to the tasty, interestingly coloured beverage inside to the wonderful anecdotes (one was of a man who slept with a can of OK soda under his pillow and awoke with psychic powers, continued by saying that drinking OK Soda often makes people "feel OK" and finished off with teh disclaimer that none of this could be necessarily attributed to OK soda ;) )
OK soda was more than just OK, it was Grreat!
Reverse Engineering of popular foodstuffs (Score:2)
GNUpenCola (Score:1)
Damnit, i don't want to go to comdex... (Score:2)
and without the can, you can't get the source on the can.
and without the source, you can't brew your own version of the soda.
It's a conspiracy by the creators of trade shows i tell ya! Only hope they have some at DefCon. All I know is that I can't download their cola source from their web site. `8r/ OPEN SOURCE THE COLA RECEIPE NOW!
(and I don't mean the buggie perl script that assumes that once you start drinking a soda, the variable $reallyThirsty never changes. and I would most likely make a subroutine &recycle() that would be portable, for if you're drinking in your car, etc.)
--
Gonzo Granzeau
Libre as in beer (Score:1)
I include the recipe and production notes on the label, and anyone that I give a beer to is welcome to produce their own version based on mine.
Unfortunately, I have a personal policy as a technical writer. I test a product, and test it hard, while documenting it. So my beer labels are often about as comprehensible as code comments written at 3 A.M.
Our secret is gamma-irradiated cow manure
Mitsubishi ad
Symbolism? (Score:1)
Steelbridge, is it? Located on Bloor St. E as they claim to be (mmm, south of Rosedale), this name inevitably invokes the Bloor Viaduct, but a few hundred meters away.
The only bridge in North America from which more lives were ended last year was the Golden Gate. This I would not deem a propitious symbol.
Allow Me to Introduce Myself... (Score:1)
Hi. I'm Allan Cox, Open Source advocate, Linux [saltire.org] advocate, and primary coder for Linux's TCP/IP stack. I hope I'm welcome in the SlashDot forums, as til this point, I've been a totally arrogant, antisocial bastard to the community which barely pays for my lifestyle.
In regards to the TCP/IP stack in Linux and my arrogant attitude, I must apologize: as you all already knew, and I just recently admitted to myself, FreeBSD [saltire.org]'s TCP/IP stack is far superior to Linux's, and to top it off, Microsoft [saltire.org] has proven many a time that even the TCP/IP code found in Windows NT [saltire.org] functions better than the drivel I have generated myself. Boy, what a humbler that is! It was like RMS and ESR yelling at me on my own front porch (well it's not really my front porch, it's the landlady's, in front of my one-bed, half-bathroom hovel, but you get the point)!
I'd also like to say, in regards to those who read and post in SlashDot's forums... I am sure I will be seeing Allan Cox. [note the period], Alien Cox, Allan Cocks, Allan Coox, and the like. Please, please, please, for those of you who take SlashDot posting seriously (as I do now, amen!) do not let these crank posters (heretofore to be called "trolls") ruin CmdrTaco's bountiful SlashDot experience! "Trolls" take some delight in confusing the populace and causing disparity in the community. Take the time to learn the real from the fake, as I have (re: how I admitted to myself my TCP/IP stack for Linux actually sucks)!
Thank you.
Re:'Bayzian' Histograms (Score:1)
Re:Damnit, i don't want to go to comdex... (Score:1)
No purchase necessary. Really.
Cheers,
Chris Cummer
Señor Programmer
Steelbridge, Inc.
Cool! (Score:2)
I think diffs in receipes will be an interesting venture... heh
Best of luck to this venture!--
Gonzo Granzeau
Re:Symbolism? (Score:1)
Re:the COLA acronym is all wrong... (Score:1)
Re:Just a couple of notes (Score:1)
John is 27. He only acts like a 24-year-old.
Actually, John is 26, and he mostly acts like a hyperintelligent six-year-old on a sugar-high who's been force-fed every movie the Marx Brothers ever made.
Also, his title isn't Chief Technology Officer, it's CETI -- Chief Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, or, as we like to say, "Far-Out Man."
--
Cory (who actually is 28)
ROT26 my email address
Re:Other Open Source Food Ideas (Score:1)
Re:riiiiiiiiiiiiight. (Score:1)
Chalk one up for Evangelion. Very funny.
Re:a little history of the coca in cola (Score:1)
One year at University I was living on a floor with a load of Muslims from Malaysia, who showed me a certificate they had from Coca-Cola affirming that there were minute (and I mean, minute) quantities of ethanol in Coca-Cola. These guys never drank Coke because of this. A bit extreme, you might think, but it's their choice....
Tom.
Could the expert enlighten us ? (Score:1)
Would you please compare and contrast TROLL versus FLAMEBAIT ? I really don't know the difference. It seems to me that both attempt to incite a response based on an outrageous statement. Is a TROLL based on a positive statment such as "Windows rulez" while FLAMEBAIT is based on a negative statment ("Natalie sux")? Or is that positive
Furthermore, seeing as the apocryphal Ms Portman was mentioned, please indicate exactly why OFFTOPIC and REDUNDANT are inappropriate. Thank you.
Re:Coke has been "open source" forever.. and so ha (Score:1)