Open Source Microsoft Project Alternative Released

I just got the announcement in my inbox about the release of source code for Open Workbench. Open Workbench is the open source version of Project Workbench. Project Workbench is an alternative to Microsoft Project. It was originally developed way back in the the MS-DOS era, ported to Windows 3.1 and finally reencarnated into an open source project.

I'm familiar with a little bit of its history since I used to work for the company that built the product (i.e. Applied Business Technology). For the short time I was at ABT, I evaluated several alternatives for building cross platform GUIs in C++. Interestingly enough, my recommendation at that time was StarDivision's tool (i.e. StarView). That is the framework that is the basis of OpenOffice today. In hindsight, if they had selected StarView back then the Open Workbench tool could easily be seamlessly integrated with OpenOffice.

It's peculiar that the Open Workbench source code consists of both C++ and Java code. I guess it's the end result of a product that has gone through years of evolution. When I looked at the codebase years ago, the core of its engine was built in assembler! A consequence of its early MSDOS heritage. Fortunately, they finally overcame the politics of legacy code and replaced it with a more manageable core. That is a core built using Java.

I've written before about the attributes of a successful open source project. However, the key factor can be summarized in The Architecture of Participation. For Open Workbench to make a significant impact it should integrate well with other open source initiatives. That would require conforming to previously defined plugin architectures. This would entail the ripping out of the existing C++ code base that drives its UI and replacing it with something more pluggable.

It is now time for yet another fearless prediction, Open Workbench will be re-written as a Plug-in for Eclipse. You can quote me on that. Don't be surprised if you find Niku joining the Eclipse consortium. This wouldn't be a precedent, afterall the likes of Actuate have seen the writing on the wall. Imagine, Project Management and Business Intelligence all integrated within the Eclipse platform. The Eclipse juggernaut moves on.