Any linux programmers out there?

[Bob Cober]

Gentlemen - I work for a large E&S Insurance Company(over $1.5B in Premium)
in Scottsdale, Arizona.  We are owned by a very large Insurance Enterprise.
Having read your e-mail, I thought I would offer some information regarding
Linux for corporate use.

Our IT shop is primarily an AS400 and Sun based server environment.  We use
also use Windows for our smaller and less critical needs due to security and
reliability concerns.  We are currently participating in a joint Enterprise
Project to evaluate Linux for our Enterprise.

Some of the business drivers of this project include things like:
Reduce total cost of ownership for distributed and mainframe computing
platforms
Improve reliability, scalability and performance
Reduce dependence upon single-vendor hardware and software stack

After some initial market research, the project team feels that over the
next few years there will be a substantial migration to Linux on the Intel
platform.  They feel that there is a significant oppurtunity to leverage
Linux within the Enterprise in a variety of roles.

As far as programmers in the Phoenix area, consider this point:  Most of the
current development technolgies are platform-independent:  C/C++, Java, PHP,
Perl, Python, etc..  and can all run on a variety of hardware and software.
Because of this, there is a substantial number of developers available using
any of these technologies - and they all run on Linux.

The only development I would not choose is Microsoft .Net - since it only
runs on one platform and will lock you in to the Microsoft Upgrade and Pay
Plan

Good luck on your project

Robert G. Cober
Development Team Lead
Advanced Technolgy Team



Subject: Any linux programmers out there?
From: Craig White <craigwhite@azapple.com>
To: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
Cc: Ray Grey <r.grey@tobyhouse.com>
Organization:
Date: 16 May 2003 11:03:05 -0700
Reply-To: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us

I have a rather interesting situation with a client of mine. They are a
non-profit mental health provider - the Executive Director is Ray Grey
<mailto:r.grey@tobyhouse.com> I have included him in the distribution of
this email.

Anyway, I think he agrees with me that the best path for a non-profit
corporation to go is open source/free software and he does have a
die-hard Windows guy as president of the board of directors.

Apparently the issue comes down to his belief that there aren't any
Linux programmers around. Imagine that!

They are in central Phoenix.

I told him that there were many Linux programmers around and if I put
the word out on just one mail list (PLUG), that he would likely be
inundated with people, capable and willing and most likely resumes. I
can't guarantee that anyone will get a programming assignment...it may
ultimately end up at an over priced Windows integrator.

The project involves collection of data into an SQL database and sending
electronic compilations of the data as billing data in HCFA type
blocks...multi-user and the user interface and the middleware is not
determined.

If you are interested, please send him an email - feel free to copy me
or don't copy me and that's fine.

If you are a programmer but are currently involved in other projects
please drop him a short note just to let him know that there are Linux
programmers as this is a sticking point.

If you have questions, please feel free to send them to me.

The big issue here, if I failed to make the point is that we have a
non-profit agency with a lot of Macintosh computers and no real
investment in Microsoft Windows hardware or software. It's obvious to me
that this is the right time to move to open source / free software and
the major obstacle to this is that they have a perception that Linux
programmers, integrators, system administrators etc. are not readily
identifiable...stand up and be counted and you will make a difference in
the perception of decision makers.

Thanks,

Craig