Dan Shafer writes, "...if you're not Microsoft or maybe IBM/Sun with Java, development tool makers don't stand a chance against good Open Source projects." The first thing that comes to mind is one of my favorite programs, Visual SlickEdit, a kick-ass, award-winning programming tool made by SlickEdit Inc. in Morrisville, North Carolina. You may have never heard of it, but as their web site says, "over 125,000 developers can't be wrong." They've been in business for over 13 years, their product is definitely not open source (and not particularly cheap). And, while I don't know for sure, I'm guessing they have a pretty nice business going. (From their site: "The company was also recognized in 2001 as one of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in North Carolina.") Just an example. (Um, there's also Macromedia.) Dave comments more.