Meaning: The quote "We're not going to make Evolution or any of our other products depend on Mono anytime in the near future" by Nat Friedman, a prominent businessman and entrepreneur, refers to the strategic decisions made by his company, Ximian, with regard to the use of the Mono framework. This quote sheds light on the company's approach to software development and the considerations involved in incorporating external technologies into their products.

Nat Friedman, along with Miguel de Icaza, co-founded Ximian in 1999 with a mission to develop and promote open-source software solutions. One of their significant projects was the Evolution email and groupware client, which aimed to provide a viable alternative to proprietary email clients. Additionally, Ximian was involved in the development and promotion of the Mono framework, an open-source implementation of Microsoft's .NET framework.

The quote reflects Ximian's cautious approach to integrating Mono into their flagship product, Evolution. Despite the potential benefits of using Mono, such as cross-platform compatibility and access to a wide range of libraries and tools, the company decided not to make their products dependent on Mono in the near future. This decision may have been influenced by various factors, including technical considerations, business strategies, and market dynamics.

From a technical perspective, the decision may have been driven by concerns about the stability, performance, and compatibility of the Mono framework. At the time of the quote, Mono was still in its early stages of development, and Ximian may have been hesitant to bet their flagship product on a relatively unproven technology. Additionally, the company may have had concerns about potential legal issues or intellectual property conflicts related to Mono's compatibility with Microsoft's .NET framework.

On the business side, Ximian's decision may have been influenced by market dynamics and competitive pressures. Evolution was competing in a crowded market of email and groupware clients, and Ximian likely had to carefully consider how their strategic decisions would impact their product's market position. Furthermore, the company may have wanted to maintain a level of independence from external technologies to ensure greater control over their product roadmap and development process.

In the broader context of the open-source community, the quote also reflects the ongoing discussions and debates around the use of Mono and its implications for the open-source ecosystem. Some segments of the open-source community expressed concerns about Mono's reliance on technology developed by Microsoft, as well as the potential risks of patent or intellectual property disputes. Ximian's decision not to make their products dependent on Mono may have been influenced by these broader community dynamics and the desire to navigate these issues carefully.

Overall, Nat Friedman's quote encapsulates the complex considerations involved in software development, particularly when it comes to integrating external technologies into products. Ximian's cautious approach to using Mono in their products reflects the company's strategic mindset, technical considerations, and the broader dynamics of the open-source community. While the quote represents a specific decision made by Ximian at a particular point in time, it also highlights the broader themes of risk management, technological choices, and market dynamics that are central to the software industry.