Introduction to the Open Database Alliance
Ecosystem, not monoculture
The Open Database Alliance (ODBA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the commercial and non-commercial ecosystem around Open Source Database Technologies. Whereas proprietary software forces strong dependencies upon a single vendor, Open Source (a.k.a. Free Software, Libre Software, FOSS or FLOSS) enables an ecosystem of commercial offerings around certain technologies, e.g. GNU, Samba, Apache, the Linux Kernel.
Databases are an essential base technology for most higher applications, from desktop search over web services to the entire spectrum of enterprise IT. Enabling, growing and protecting that ecosystem for all Open Source Database Technologies are primary activities of the ODBA.
Who can join?
The Open Database Alliance is open to all participants in the commercial ecosystem surrounding Open Source Database Technologies, including developers, service providers, resellers, platform providers and those who incorporate these technologies into their products and services, as well as users of these technologies and their non-profit constituencies.
How does the ODBA work?
The ODBA is a member-driven non-profit association registered in Switzerland. During the general assembly the members elect the Board of Directors which handles the daily affairs of the association directly and through delegation to the executives of the association, such as the executive director. The Articles of Association are available online for more information.
Why should you join?
The ODBA will actively promote business around Open Source Databases and develop new technology. Reasons to join the ODBA include
- wanting your customers to benefit from access to a larger network
- increasing the value of your products and services through access to a larger network;
- helping vendors better meet the requirements of users, yourself included
- identifying the next technological challenge, and how to overcome it;
- ensure the lasting success and sustainability of the technologies that you have deployed;
- supporting the ecosystem around Open Source Databases for more competition and choice;
- participating through the ODBA in standardization and other technology policy forums;
- giving input into all of the above.
If you are a Value Added Reseller (VAR) or a vendor of products, services or solutions, you will find more information on the "ODBA for Resellers" and "ODBA for Vendors pages.
What can the ODBA do for you?
The ODBA can be part of the right solution for your problems, be they related to
- finding the right company to solve your problem;
- finding trustworthy partners to tackle larger projects together;
- building up a network of partners for ongoing mutual cooperation;
- finding the resource to drive essential developments, especially where those are difficult to finance through individual customer projects;
- helping protect your business interests;
- promoting more freedom of competition and choice on an essential base technology.
More information
All documents of incorporation, the membership fees, their allocation to the different activities, the current members of the board and the upcoming meetings are available online. Transparency is an important overall principle of the ODBA. Members are usually invited to participate as guest in any board meeting, and it is usually possible for non-members to obtain guest admission to the General Assemblies of the association.
So if you have questions that have not been answered by this web page or would like to propose additional means to make the ODBA more transparent, please let us know.
Existing Members
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