What is Open Source?
Open Source is a term used to apply to software that meets several qualifications. First it is freely redistributable, the source code must be freely available, it must be modifiable and allow for derivations. According to the Open Source Initiatives definition, there are several other requirements as well.
What this means, in essence, is that open source software can be used, changed, and distributed by anyone.
Open Source vs. Proprietary Software
Proprietary software is still the predominant force in the computer industry. Proponents of proprietary software will say that it is better made and more secure, due to a paid dedicated team of programmers working exclusively to develop a single program. However, in practice this has proven, time and again, to not be the case. Open source software is freely available to everyone and anyone can examine and modify the base code that makes up the actual operating program. This means that that bugs and flaws in the software are more quickly found, published, and fixed. Many of the top open source projects have hundreds, even thousands of individuals contibuting in some way to the continued development of the software. No proprietary program can make that claim.
Open source software, from operating systems, servers, databases, office suites, desktop applications, etc. tend to be far more stable. They are more secure, more robust, often they are faster, will almost always run on cheaper and older hardware with less requirement for upgrading over time.
Why Open Source?
There are a number of reasons that businesses (and even individual users) should consider using primarily open source software. The first, of course, is cost. Most, if not all, open source software can be downloaded and distributed at no cost. There are no restrictions on how many systems a single piece of software can run, there are no licensing fees. There are no yearly renewal fees, upgrade fees, etc. The cost of ownership is greatly reduced, not just in the immediate installation and deployment of the software, but in the total coast of ownership over the long term. Hardware upgrades are drastically reduced, even to the point that many computers that would be considered scrap because they will not run modern versions of proprietary software, can be used to effectively run better designed open source software. There is also an increased level of security to be found in open source software, particularly operating systems and network servers. The default installation of most Linux distributions is far more secure than that of Windows. It is possible to completely secure Linux without the use of software firewalls, antivirus programs, etc. However there are still reasons for using security software, even with secure software.
Open source software is generally more reliable, with less down time and fewer errors, than proprietary software. Scalability and performance are also areas where open source software tends to excell.
For further information visit these sites:
- Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers!: One of the best papers available online concerning this subject.
Pacific Open Technologies can help. If you have any questions, or wish to discuss your information technology needs, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.