Exclusive Interview: Eric Gries, Lucid Imagination
July 27, 2010
It’s not everyday that you find a revolutionary company like Lucid Imagination that’s blazing a new trail in the Open Source world whose CEO described the firm as being at 90 degrees to the traditional search business model.
Still, that’s the way that Eric Gries refers to Lucene/Solr’s impact on the search and content processing market. “The traditional search industry has not changed much in 30 years. Lucid Imagination’s approach is new, disruptive, and able to deliver high value solutions without the old baggage. We have flipped the old ideas of paying millions and maybe getting a solution that works. We provide the industrial strength software and then provide services that the client needs. The savings are substantial. Maybe we are now taking the right angle?”, he asked with a big smile?”
This pivot in the market reflects the destabilizing impact of open source search, and the business that Mr. Gries is building at supersonic speeds. “Traditional search is like taking a trip on a horse drawn cart. Lucid Imagination’s approach is quick, agile, and matched to today’s business needs.”
A seasoned executive in in software and information management, Mr. Gries uses the phrase to capture his firm’s meteoric rise in the Open Source world and how the success of its Open Source model is giving traditional competitors such as Autonomy, Endeca, and Microsoft Fast indigestion.
Mr. Gries’s background speaks of the right pedigree for a professional who is at the helm of a successful startup.
He got his start at Cullinet Software. “I started in the computer sciences and joined my first company as part of the development team,” Cullinet Software was an early leader–databases were young, and relational databases, made famous by Larry Ellison, were just getting out of the gate,” he recently told Beyond Search. After he got his MBA, he moved more into the business side, among other things, building the Network System Management Division at Compuware. He’s brought solid credentials in software services from his experience to the new venture at Lucid Imagination, a start up with substantial venture backing.
Eric Gries, the mastermind of the Lucene Revolution. Source: Lucid Imagination, www.lucidimagination.com
He was first attracted to search and data and the relevant issues there. The lure of Open Source came later.
“The thing that attracted me to Open Source at first was the fact that search was really growing in leaps and bounds,” he said and he’s understandably proud of what the company has been able to accomplish so far.
“Lucene/Solr is software that is as good or better than most of the other commercial offerings in terms of scalability, relevance and performance.”
He talked recently about how it was important to him to put together the right kind of advisory guidance, drawing on people with real world experience in the technology and business of Open Source.
“I was new to the space, so very early on I put together a very strong advisory board of Open Source luminaries that were very helpful.”
Lucid Imagination, of which Gries is President and CEO, was launched in 2009, and is only in its second year of operation. Lucid closed millions of dollars worth of business in their first year. The recipe for success that includes a deep level of involvement and collaboration with the community outside Lucid, communities and and ensuring the technology gets the right kind of attention in terms of vital needs like quality and flexibility that drive the appetite of organizations for search technology.
The value of the business is about search, not open source. The company is riding on the trends of search and Open Source which Mr. Gries says is being accepted more and more as a mainstay of the enterprise.
The establishment has taken notice as well with companies who understand the value of trailblazers like Red Hat — ‘opening doors’ for Lucene/Solr according to Mr. Gries — and in turn helping them to establish themselves as a second generation supplier of Open Source technology solutions.
Mr. Gries’s enthusiasm for his new type of business model is infectious and he enjoys pointing out the pride and dedication that goes into the work that gets done at Lucid, located in the heart of Silicon Valley.
“We added low cost to the metrics of scalability, relevance and performance so there’s really no good reason to use any commercial software with all due respect,” he added.
One of the more interesting aspects of Lucid is the fact that the firm has received $16 million in venture funding and is already getting an impressive list of clients on their roster that includes names like LinkedIn, Cisco, and Zappos, now a unit of the giant Amazon.
It’s clear that Mr. Gries has been able to understand that Open Source has been able to displace some commercial search solutions, and for him the reasons are simple that the software is downloaded at the blistering pace of thousands of units a day.
“Now the software is good and industry sees that there is a commercial entity committed to working with them, we want the enterprise to see they can work with Open Source,” he noted.
Still, while there is what’s been described as considerable momentum among some developers for this technology, some senior information technology managers and some purchasing professionals are less familiar with Open Source software and Lucene/Solr.
That’s where Mr. Gries understands the need to get the word out on the firm. He has learned that the education of the market is critical and hopes to build on the successes that Lucid Imagination achieved with sponsoring a developer conference in Prague earlier this year . It was so successful another—the Lucene Revolution— is planned for Boston in October.
Mr. Gries prides himself on the fact that the products created are all about a fresh business model with no distance between the developer and user. He’s proud of the success that the Lucene/Solr technology and community, along with his company, have enjoyed so far and likes to point out in his own way that one of their biggest goals beyond added value is increasing their market exposure for what he call this second generation Open Source.
“We are at 90 degrees to the typical search business model. We’re disruptive. We are making the competition explain a business model that is not matched to today’s financial realities. The handcuffs of traditional software licenses won’t fit companies that need agility and high value solutions,” he said. “ The software is already out there and running mission critical solutions. One of our tasks to to make sure people understand what is available now, and the payoffs available right now.”
He points to the fact that success came so early for Lucene/Solr the company has just put their 24/7 customer service in place.
Open source means leveraging a community. Lucid combines the benefits of open source software with exceptional support and service. For more information about the company, its Web site is at www.lucidimagination.com.
Stephen E Arnold, July 27, 2010
I have been promised a free admission to the Lucene Revolution in October 2010.
iPad and Enterprise IT
July 26, 2010
CIO Magazine ran a story that evoked the irony of a sophomore world literature class’s discussion of “Death in Venice”. On the surface, the old dude is trying to ease into the coffin. Below the surface, the tensions of northern and southern Europe create a flurry of post pubescent analyses.
Navigate to “Global CIO: Top 10 Reasons Steve Jobs & Apple Are The Future Of IT”. You can zip through the 10 reasons and understand that Apple’s iPad is not a toy for lean back content consumption. Nope. The iPad is the future of information technology. CIO Magazine has spoken.
A moment’s reflection reveals that *if* CIO Magazine is correct, CIO Magazine an its readers will be out of a job. No pun intended. The iPad limits the damage a user can do. Crashes are rare. Even a clueless tyro can locate content. The notion of docking to the big Apple itself reduces the likelihood of losing data. Installing software does not require a degree from MIT. Even the most conceptually challenged MBA can figure out how to work most of the device’s functions. What’s the argument for an expensive, often cranky information technology specialist. For that matter, why is a magazine needed to explain why information technology is so important to an organization. Most CEOs whom I know see IT as one big reason the company is not making headway in tough economic seas.
Consider these reasons offered up by CIO Magazine and its editorial engine sitting around struggling for a feature:
- Virtualization in general and VMWare specifically. Wow. I never would have thought of the iPad’s importance gated by VMWare. Fresh idea and one that underscores why CEOs want to be rid of information technology pundits.
- The iPad is a hot product. Yep, but what’s that say about the hostility to the clunky information technology solutions foisted on BMW crazed MBAs for many years? I think it says that complexity has made a toaster style computer the next big thing.
- The Apple desktop computers are selling. No kidding. The systems generally work as advertised. I don’t have space to explain the craziness of the Windows 7 desktop. Let me say that USB support is less than outstanding.But what’s the iPad and the CIO list mean for search.
Four points in my opinion:
First, search vendors have to come to grips with complexity and quick. Push back regarding the Rube Goldbeg systems can do them in
Second, the price point becomes an issue. When complexity is kicked to the curb, commoditization may grab the brass ring. Google had this idea years ago but has not been able to capitalize. Now it may be Lucene/Solr that gets the prize.
Third, users go their own way just as they did when bootlegging PCs into companies in the 1980s. I heard on a conference call that Google’s success is due to its opening Pandora’s Box, not from its brilliant marketing efforts.
Fourth, management becomes impotent. I have examples of senior managers who can no longer manage. The evidence is everywhere. Can you name a big company that has lost its sense of direction and the confidence of its shareholders. Need a hint?
Will CIO Magazine survive as a gadget publication? Probably not. Will traditional IT survive? In some outfits, the deck chairs floated when the Titanic sank. Outlook for those with buoyancy is good. Ah, irony of death in Venice digital style.
Stephen E Arnold, July 24, 2010
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Is Buzz a Buzz Saw?
July 24, 2010
Buzz came out of the starting gate and stumbled. Google regrouped, but the goslings in the mine run off pond remain confused about Buzz, Wave, and the forthcoming social service from Google.
Confusion aside Google Buzz seems to be moving forward again and at least according to ZDnet.com and picking up some momentum. (See Google Buzz Firehose now available.) The reason? Google is opening up Buzz to developers; they really warmed to the Buzz API that was introduced. So the question is, is this what was needed to put the real buzz in Buzz?
With a free Firehose API that’s being offered it’s possible the Google Buzz people can start making some interesting apps here. There can’t be any mistake about what Google is really trying to do with Buzz and after a slow start they might just be set to get the social traction they are looking for.
When they first pulled the plug on the Google Search API, they opened the door for Twitter, but now that trend just might be reversing.
Rob Starr, July 24, 2010
Vivisimo Chases Call Center Sales
July 22, 2010
One of the most frustrating things for a call center agent is not having the information that a customer needs right at their fingertips. Any business knows that they can lose customers when they have agents fumbling around through applications looking for answers, and no one really has the resources to be constantly updating this kind of information.
Sometimes the solutions come from unlikely sources. Vivisimo started by supplying applications for the military and academia but is now tackling the more practical problems that call centers face with Velocity. Here’s a real company on the move and they swear by this new information platform which they say optimizes fragmented information with any easy to use interface.
Vivisimo’s history begins with an on-the-fly clustering function, veers into Web indexing, jumps to enterprise search, embraced integration, and now flirts with call center search. Agility or chasing revenue? The goslings and I are not sure.
Now is most definitely the time for some of the world’s best companies to apply their knowledge to practical economic solutions.
Vivisimo may have to show some Autonomy-style innovation to make a quantum leap in revenue in my opinion.
Stephen E Arnold, July 22, 2010
Big Surprise Department: Free Is Popular
July 22, 2010
It turns out that a paywall was a bad idea for times.co.uk. Almost three weeks after they decided to get a little saucy and charge for their online content, web traffic has plummeted. Sounds a little like an attempt to get blood from a stone when there are so many other free places to get your news.
When all the calculations were exposed in Times loses almost 90% of online readership, the numbers work out to a loss of about 90% of the people who first stopped at the site. The recent totals also work out to just 16% of the pre registration numbers.
Maybe this is about trying to get apiece of cake from a bankrupt bakery. Maybe in a bigger sense it’s about the fact that people like free online stuff only. Either way, the times needs to stop charging.
Rob Starr, July 22, 2010
Is Facebook Stalled on the Railroad Tracks?
July 22, 2010
Legal hassles may be escalating. The Google is – slowly, I admit – gearing up for a social push. And according to an article “Are We Reaching Peak Facebook”? in Future Tense, written by Jeff Horwich, we might be seeing the beginning of the decline of Facebook. It seems to be the social media site had a terrible June and only had growth that approached the population size of Minneapolis. That’s 330,000 people that month alone.
If the tone here sounds snide, read on…it’s not necessarily so. Facebook had a May where they logged in almost 8 million new users. The dip seems to be a result of the some users getting disgruntled with some of their policies and some other hash media attention, but to think they are hitting the brick wall is a little fanciful. Bad attention for Facebook only has a temporary effect. They’ve been able to listen for any trains approaching in the past and step away to let problems pass. That could account for the fact they are matching Orkut in India and Brazil.
Rob Starr, July 22, 2010
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ZyLAB and Deloitte
July 21, 2010
The Deloitte Discovery Platform has chosen a partner that well known in the world of e-discovery and information management solutions. With the new partnership with ZyLAB, Deloitte will be able to reduce costs in the critical areas of discovery and compliance for the modern business.
The new collaboration promises to be extremely effective when it comes to the complex searching and review of large amounts of data. The idea behind the partnership according to one official at Deloitte’s Forensic and Dispute Services (FDS) is a better analysis and search capabilities combined.
Deloitte is a well known provider of audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services in several different industries. ZyLAB’s modular e-discovery and enterprise information management solutions have been helping a variety of industries for the last 25 years. They also offer multi language support.
The goslings in Harrod’s Creek need a scorecard. Brainware does document management and search. ZyLAB does search and document management. Iron Mountain does everything. EMC is on the law firm horse as well. What’s happened to good old search?
What’s interesting is that law firms are cutting back and other service firms and internal legal departments are the new market. More cracks in the traditional market dividers perhaps?
Rod Starr, July 21, 2010
World Cup Tries to Score with Semantics
July 21, 2010
No referees to blame for the World Cup’s use of semantic technology. With a spiffed up Web site, the BBC can point to its non-pay wall coverage of the World Cup and especially of the semantic technologies that were used to add value and structure to the 700 pages it presented on a Web site to the world. “BBC World Cup Website Showcases Semantic Technologies” called this innovation to the addled goose’s attention. Here’s a diagram of the Beeb’s system:
There were several noteworthy changes including a far deeper and richer use of the text and other content that was available and horizontal navigation and higher quality video. The semantic technologies that were used work within the framework of automated metadata-driven web pages that automatically render links to stories of interest.
Here’s a diagram from AerospaceWeb about the physics of the Jabulani ball. Also, easy to understand?
Source: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/aerodynamics/drag/drag-disk.jpg
The semantic technologies that were so useful here did not write the content that football fans saw on the 700 pages of the site. The semantics technologies involved worked with the metadata about the site. Overall, BBC tried to offer a combination of goals, saves and semantic technologies that fans enjoyed thoroughly.
Maybe your team needs to adopt the semantic training regimen? Seems rigorous to me and a step some of the pay wall sites may want to consider if the revenues from their for-fee customers funds this type of innovation, of course. Semantics, like search and analyzing the flight of the World Cup ball, is pretty simple too!
Stephen E Arnold, July 19, 2010
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Guess Who Is Gunning for the Google?
July 21, 2010
Microsoft and Yahoo?
Yep. Automating search requests seems to be paying off for Yahoo and Microsoft as they gained a little more ground on the industry leader Google in June. However, SFGate.com isn’t exactly optimistic the trailers will catch up to the Google any time soon. Although they might have the top search engine in their crosshairs, a recently published article Yahoo, Microsoft Gain Ground on Google in Search, still states that Google owned 62.6% of the pie all through June.
Granted these numbers are down a bit from the 63.7% they enjoyed the previous month, but in our opinion the real threat to Google supremacy doesn’t come from other search engines at all. When recent polls indicate that people are also using Facebook and Twitter to get to websites on the Internet, the real challenge might come from social media.
Yahoo and Microsoft are shivering with excitement. Google now has a laser target finder on its brow. And with rumors of more turnover in the Microsoft search unit, Microsoft wants to recruit more sharpshooters. Maybe the Microsoft search blogs will get some much needed attention and substance.
Stephen E Arnold, July 20, 2010
Former AOL Top Dog Marks the Territory
July 20, 2010
One week from now it will be a year since AOL changed their CEO giving the new one 100 days to turn things around and restore the tech industry leader to its rightful place at the top. One of the really interesting developments was the fact that during the last 12 months almost every executive left and was replaced with someone who had once worked for Google.
The resulting article in BusinessInsider.com, The Inside Story: An Anonymous Ex-AOL Exec Tells All, does just that. The company was demoralized and its employees down and out before a Google influence injected a new life to the beleaguered firm. It’s an interesting read and one that begs the question if the Googlization of America is something that will work or rather just one of those things we might have to get used to.
Rob Starr, July 20, 2010
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