SourceLabs Ships Open-Source Software Stack

SourceLabs, a start-up within the open-source software market, released on Wednesday an infrastructure software stack for application deployment.

The SourceLabs AMP Stack integrates specially configured versions of the Apache web server, MySQL database and PHP, a scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. PHP is commonly used to extract data out of a database and present it on the web page.

The package is available free of charge. Like many distributors of open-source software, SourceLabs plans to make money by selling support and services.

The Seattle-based startup hopes its software package will be attractive to companies looking for open-source infrastructure software that's been pre-tested and integrated. Details on SourceLabs's testing process is available on its website.

"The SourceLabs AMP Stack is a significant step towards our vision of dependable open-source systems," Byron Sebastian, chief executive of SourceLabs, said in a statement.SugarCRM Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif., builds customer relationship management software that's often used on top of MySQL, and other open-source infrastructure software. Jacob Taylor, co-founder and vice president of engineering at SugarCRM, sees two markets for the SourceLabs stack.

Businesses with small or no information-technology departments would find it useful, because the stack is ready for use and upgrades and maintenance could be handled by SourceLabs, Taylor said.

Companies with large server farms running on Apache, MySQL and PHP would benefit by switching to SourceLabs and letting the vendor handle upgrades to all three components, Taylor said. This would relieve those organizations of the hassle of testing and deploying the software separately.

"You know everything will work together, and be consistent and stable," Taylor said.

SourceLabs AMP Stack is certified on Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 3.2. The company plans on releasing a version of the AMP stack for Microsoft Windows XP, 2000 and 98.SourceLabs also plans to join the MySQL Network Certified Partner Program, reselling access to the network's premium support and maintenance subscriptions later this year.SourceLabs investors include Brad Silverberg, managing partner of Ignition Partners, and Danny Rimer, a partner at Index Ventures.