After prodding from customers who want to develop custom solutions around HP’s bundled software, HP is reportedly considering putting source code for QUERY, its included 3000 reporting tool, into an Open Source program with some help from the Interex HP user group. Software in Open Source programs gets developed by a collective of programmers around the world; one success in the field is the Apache Web server.

Since it’s the report tool of last resort and first default on HP 3000s, QUERY has been linked with some ideas for improvement, prospects that the customers have submitted to HP. If QUERY goes to an Open Source program, those customers with the time and passion might improve it faster than HP, a typical benefit of Open Source initiatives. Stay tuned.