PrismTech

June 2013 Update v6.3

When can I access the new release of the OpenSplice Community Edition?

On July 8, 2013, PrismTech will release OpenSplice Community Edition v6.3 to the Open Source Community under a LGPLv3 source code license.  (Unlike some source code licenses, LGPLv3 places no restrictions on the use or availability of the code and does not require any user qualification).

How does v6.3 differ from the previous Community Editions of OpenSplice?

One of the major innovations introduced in OpenSplice v6 was the ability to deploy applications in a non-federated ‘single process’ mode where OpenSplice is simply linked as a library with the application(s).  Consequently this feature is now part of the new Community Edition where, combined with our latest DDSI networking implementation, this allows for a greatly enhanced ‘zero-configuration’ out-of-the-box experience.  The updated OpenSplice Community Edition will feature the first implementation (Beta) of the new DDS ISO C++ API available on the market. The new C++ API greatly reduces the complexity of developing DDS applications, and improves efficiency and safety. Furthermore, numerous other updates and improvements have been made to the code base since OpenSplice v5.5 (the previous Open Source release).  Primary changes include: performance improvements, footprint improvements, bug fixes, robustness improvements, maintainability improvements, additional interfaces and adaptations to support superior tooling (for both development and run-time monitoring and optimization), additional add-ons and plug-ins, and ease-of-use enhancements.

Why is this important to me?

OpenSplice v6.3 represents the state-of-the-art in Real-time data sharing.  It sets new levels of performance, robustness, scalability, fault-tolerance and portability (platform support).  If you have a time-sensitive distributed application or a system that requires reliable and deterministic data-sharing, then OpenSplice v6.3 should be at the top of your list of enabling technologies.  Whether you are developing systems for mil/aero, simulation, smart energy, mobile healthcare, transportation, industrial applications (e.g. Real-time M2M) or Internet connectivity from embedded and mobile devices to enterprise applications or the Cloud, then OpenSplice v6.3 (with its extensive set of configurable Qualities of Service) is an essential technology for you. 

Is v6.3 the latest version of OpenSplice?

Yes, OpenSplice v6.3 released to the Open Source community is the same “X.x” release as the OpenSplice Enterprise Edition with the exception that the OpenSplice Tuner and Streams support are bundled exclusively with the Enterprise Edition. Also the Real-time Networking and Shared memory options are only available to users with an appropriate support and maintenance subscription.

Does this mean PrismTech will now offer commercial support and maintenance for the Community Edition?

Effectively yes.  A support and maintenance subscription is available from PrismTech for the very same “X.x” release.  In addition, Commercial Edition subscribers are provided with the very latest “X.x.x” release and a free-of-charge enhanced-performance package.  So, in addition to support, subscribers also benefit from the very latest enhancements, superior performance and can take advantage of an extensive list of optional add-ons and plug-ins.

Will the Community Edition remain the same “X.x” release number as PrismTech’s Commercial Edition in the future?

Yes.  PrismTech plans to continue this policy in the future, with Community Edition “X.x” releases very closely following the same Commercial Edition “X.x” releases.  We wish to give the Open Source Community access to the very ‘latest and greatest’ releases of OpenSplice.

How does PrismTech maintain a healthy and growing business if it releases its latest products under LGPLv3 Open Source license?

PrismTech balances its commercial interests by: 1/ offering the latest OpenSplice technology under Open Source license (to remove barriers to adoption and thus maximize availability and usage) and 2/ selling support and maintenance subscriptions and a wide variety of add-ons, plug-ins and development and optimization tools under commercial license.

Is this why the Real-time Networking and Shared Memory options are not included in the new Community Edition?

Yes, after wide consultation with our customers we found that these options easily justify a reasonable license fee and yet do not detract from the viability and usefulness of the Community Edition.  We continue to provide and improve, in the Community Edition, all the functionality required for prototyping, evaluation, proving, and other starter systems.  For example, the new Community Edition offers a greatly enhanced out-of-the-box experience - as the DDSI-based ‘single process’ deployment allows for plug-and-play connectivity and simple information-lifecycle management. (In the stand-alone deployment mode, the lifecycle of the data is easily coupled to that of the applications themselves).

How does the OpenSplice Community differ from other vendors’ partner programs?

The OpenSplice Community benefits from true Open Source licensing (the widely adopted LGPLv3 license) and, unlike some other programs, is not restricted in any way with regard to usage, availability, or user qualification.  By comparison, some pseudo Open Source alternatives have multiple restrictions on use (e.g. no performance testing allowed), availability (e.g. geographic restrictions) or qualification (e.g. approved members only) and use proprietary source code licenses.  OpenSplice Community Edition has no hidden costs, no restrictions on use, and no other ‘gotchas’.

I’m currently using the last Community Edition (V5.5).  Can I continue to do so?

Absolutely!  As an Open Source product (under LGPLv3) you do not have to worry about any ‘forced’ upgrade or any other coercion to switch releases.  As and when your project can benefit from the enhancements in the new Community Edition (v6.3) you can download the new version from the Community site: www.opensplice.org

When I upgrade to Community Edition v6.3 will my existing applications built on v5.5 still run?

Yes.  The APIs of v6.3 are backwards compatible with v5.5.  There may however be non-functional behavior changes due to the introduction of the stand-alone ‘single process’ deployment mode.  Although this greatly reduces configuration complexity and greatly improves out-of-the-box connectivity, it also introduces some restrictions on scalability and Real-time determinism (when compared to the federated Shared Memory deployment and native Real-time Networking features that are now only available with a subscription to the Enterprise Edition). If you have used Shared Memory or Real-time Networking in your application or system, you can opt to stay on V5.5, or take an Enterprise Edition subscription to v6.3.  To help you upgrade, a migration guide is also provided with the Community Edition source code.          

I am a subscriber to the Enterprise Edition.  Why should I now continue to pay my annual subscription fee with v6.3 now available as Open Source?

For the very same reasons you selected an Enterprise subscription in the first place:

• Commercial support and maintenance, including service-level agreement (SLA) response and escalation benefits
• Immediate access to the very latest maintenance (X.x.x) releases
• The free-of-charge performance enhancement package included with a subscription to the Enterprise Edition (e.g. high-performance persistence)
• Early access to the latest feature enhancements and additions (e.g. beta programs for new options)
• Access to commercial licensing and OEM agreements (where Open Source licensing is not acceptable for any reason)
• Access to a wide range of add-ons and plug-ins not available in Open Source
• Access to a wide range of productivity tools (developer, performance optimization, monitoring and recording)
• The wide range of PrismTech professional service offerings (training, consultation, mentoring, system design, system optimization, etc.)
• PrismTech’s highly regarded customer service and responsiveness

As the Community Edition is now the same release (v6.3) as the Enterprise Edition can I, as a subscriber customer, now post questions to the Community forum?

Yes, in fact you could always post questions to the forum, but the Community responders may have been using an older version of the product.  Now all new users (Community and Enterprise) will be downloading and developing on v6.3.  However as a subscriber you also have a direct line into the PrismTech support organization; so no "ask and hope." With a PrismTech subscription you get a SLA with guaranteed response times for any support query.