SQLFusion blogs

SQLFusion announced the release today of the first online site building application ever built with "AJAX" technology. This online web site builder, called Drag Drop Site Creator, is available at dragdropsitecreator.com. It is intended primarily for web hosting companies, which offer Drag Drop Site Creator as an additional service to their hosting customers.

AJAX, which stands for "Asynchronous JavaScript And XML" has been highlighted recently in Gmail, Flickr, Zimbra and many "Web 2.0" applications, and is made evident by their outstanding speed and ease of use. Indeed, AJAX-based applications look almost as if they reside on the user's machine, rather than across the Internet on a separate server. Drag Drop Site Creator pushes this technology a step further by allowing users to build entire web sites within their web browsers. They do so with an intuitive point, click and drag mechanism for any web site elements, such as text, pictures, forms and even additional web applications. It is especially suitable for individuals and small to mid-sized businesses, which can build full featured web sites without technical expertise or personnel.

SQLFusion claims that with Drag Drop Site Creator, web hosting companies are now able to offer a powerful web-based application to their customers. Philippe Lewicki, SQLFusion's CEO, says that "Drag Drop Site Creator is probably the most breathtaking software a web host can provide to his customers today. Any web host can now offer a service which competes with what the largest web portals and service providers are offering. Actually, web hosts will be able to offer a technology which is ahead of what those web portals are currently offering. They give their customers a way to build custom, full-featured websites in a way that is truly intuitive and accessible to any non-technical user of any age, 7 to 77". Mr Lewicki adds, "Drag Drop site creator is also a fantastic tool to differentiate a web hosting offer in this tremendously competitive marketplace. It allows web hosts to manage hundreds of user accounts seamlessly and build custom plans matching each category of customers they target."

With dozens of web hosting companies currently offering Drag Drop Site Creator to their customers along with their standard hosting services, SQLFusion is already bringing extra value to web hosting services. After receiving the Editor's Choice award from Webhost magazine buyer's guide last July, SQLFusion intends to move ahead and build an even stronger network of web hosts, providing its technology to any business or individual that needs a web site.

About SQLFusion

SQLFusion, LLC is a U.S. company based in Lawndale, in Southern California. Its founder, Philippe Lewicki, developed the first online database Form Manager in 1999. Fueled by this early success in creating web applications, SQLFusion has developed an advanced online web authoring tool with Drag Drop Site Creator as its leading product.

Zoli has a great post on Open Source vs. big enterprise software vendors.

The post begins with a response to Shai Agassi's remarks about Open Source and continues by digging into what the real problem is and its potential solutions.

As Open Source moves toward enterprise applications, the value is impressive.
Open Source web-based applications mean no delivery or implementation costs and very low recurring fees.

Its official now -- it was announced at the launch of the newest version of SQL Server.
Microsoft will be competing with apache in the low end web hosting market.
Take a look at the ends of the following articles:
Microsoft pitches Web tools to hosting companies (ZDnet)
CNet
Microsoft watch

At SQLFusion we have been particularly close to the hosting industry for the past 9 months, and we have met with Microsoft employees (such as Shawn Nandi) several times. We were aware that they were preparing a move along these lines, but we didn't know how soon it would happen.

From what I've seen, I suggest that companies offering linux products do not underestimate this. They are very serious about it. I've heard enough to be able to tell you that they are building a strategic plan to grow in the web server market. They are integrating and embracing a lot of the good things we have created in the Open Source arena using PHP, MySQL and Apache (LAMP).

Take a look at DotNetNuke to see what I am talking about. They are integrating equivalents of all the open source tools we currently offer, such as mail servers, IMAP/POP tools, FTP servers, web servers, database servers, web scripting languages and user control panels... and they are doing so in a scalable and user-friendly way.

We do not know how strong their initial attack will be, but it is clear that it is beginning.
This means that open source will be put to the test. For the first time, open source software will be the existing, dominant player being attacked by a newcomer. Today Apache is the clear leader, with a 70% market share. Microsoft, at 20%, is the only viable second in this race.

Can open source domination be taken down by a closed source commercial software company?

I don't know. I can only say that we are finding more and more Windows-based hosting companies to act as resellers for our software. It is possible that in the next couple of years we will see the netcraft web server survey graph change significantly.

If the open source community and all related commercial entities (RedHat, Debian, MySQL AB, cPanel, directAdmin, SQLFusion, etc) join together in building usability, integration and interopability standards there could be a way to build a united defence and a solid strategy.

It's time to prepare.

This is a great article regarding the blending of desktop and web-based internet applications. It's a great concept, and the necessary next step in the continuing evolution of software.
I mostly agree with George F. Colony view of the future of software. I just want to point out how hype like Google's can blur judgement.

Google is an amazing company. They have changed the advertising marketplace using a search engine. They take advantage of new web technologies like Ajax, along with open source, to build the most user friendly web interfaces available. Google Talk is a Jabber server (free open source instant messaging server). Google Maps and Gmail are Ajax web applications. The search cluster is powered by Linux (free open source operating system). Google has an amazing advertising business model. It generates a lot of money and speculation and a high valuation.

According to George: "Google will define the future of software."
Lets go beyond the "cool factor".

Something is about to happen; we can tell that we are on the verge of a new technology shift.
New web application technologies (Ajax, web services) combine with open source and the internet as a place to work and do business.
Naturally all eyes turn toward Google.

But in terms of applications, what do they offer that Yahoo and Microsoft don't? Nothing.

Google has the best search technology, with amazing usability for its web applications. But nothing new in terms of software.

Google is an advertising company.
Offering free software will only be one of several ways for Google to get page views and clicks on their ads. I'm not sure it will be the main one in the long term.
There are many ways to make money via advertising other than free software.
Online television, wireless internet access, digital e-books...

How long do you think it will take Microsoft to adapt its Office suite and other applications to the web?
Not long -- take a look at today's announcement from Ozzie.

How long do you think it will take Yahoo! to add Ajax and improve usability?
Not long -- take a look at the new beta of Yahoo! Mail.

Oracle? Why would they care what Google does? Google will not shift from a consumer company to an enterprise vendor. That doesn't match their advertising model.

How long will it take for new startups to come up with better technologies and business models?
Not long -- Google looks like an old player compared to new startups that take full advantage of open source, search technologies, web services and user contribution.

With free consumer software, Google will remain a major player in internet advertising and not fade away anytime soon. But given fast, reactive competition and a consumer-centric business model, I personally do not think Google will define the future of software.

The Open Source community and related software vendors will define the future of software.
Software innovation is ahead of us: we are entering a new cycle.