| "Open source is a set of principles and | | | | meet specific user needs. Even if you cannot |
| practices on how to write software, the most | | | | program yourself, it is easy to post a |
| important of which is that the source code is | | | | feature request on an open source software |
| openly available" | | | | project's home page. If you would like |
| | | | something added or customized urgently, you |
| The free software movement was launched in | | | | can generally pay an appropriately skilled |
| 1983. In 1998, a group of individuals | | | | software developer to do it for you. |
| advocated that the term free software be | | | | |
| replaced by open source software (OSS) as an | | | | Translation |
| expression which is less ambiguous and more | | | | |
| comfortable for the corporate world. Software | | | | With access to the source code it is easy to |
| developers may want to publish their software | | | | translate the language of the software |
| with an open source license, so that anybody | | | | interface. Large closed source commercial |
| may also develop the same software or | | | | software vendors are usually unwilling to |
| understand how it works. | | | | translate their products into less widely |
| | | | spoken languages, as the market for them |
| Benefits of Open Source Software: | | | | would be too small to guarantee profit. |
| | | | |
| Low Cost | | | | Easy Learning From Examples |
| | | | |
| NO need to buy expensive server software | | | | If you are interested in programming, open |
| licenses or renew. The service includes all | | | | source code provides an excellent resource |
| required software, and never required any | | | | from which to learn, and open source projects |
| additional software. | | | | provide a practical environment in which to |
| | | | test your skills. Just watching the |
| Efficient Working | | | | development process can provide an education |
| | | | in itself. If you choose to submit code to an |
| The major reason is it is virus free. Also it | | | | open source project, it will generally be |
| works fine with lower configuration hardware. | | | | checked and commented on by experienced |
| You will not require to take higher | | | | programmers. Once you have convinced the |
| configuration hardware. | | | | project community that your code is of |
| | | | appropriate quality, you may be granted full |
| Reliability | | | | committer rights yourself. |
| | | | |
| Almost all software releases contains bugs. | | | | Large Community and become a part of it |
| When a bug is spotted in proprietary | | | | |
| software, the only people who can fix it are | | | | By adopting open source software you become |
| the original developers, as only they have | | | | part of a community of users and developers |
| access to the source code. Open source | | | | who have an interest in working together to |
| software is different. As a large number of | | | | support each other and improve the software. |
| users can access and change the code, bugs | | | | The extent to which you engage with this |
| tend to be more visible and more rapidly | | | | community is up to you, but you may obtain |
| corrected. One of the slogans of the open | | | | the intangible benefits of goodwill if you |
| source movement is that 'given enough | | | | do. |
| eyeballs, all bugs are shallow' | | | | |
| | | | There is leading software and development |
| Customization | | | | providers who offer a range of powerful Open |
| | | | Source Software that provide zero risk, cost |
| Closed source applications can only be | | | | effective functionality. Rather than the |
| customized or adapted by the original vendor. | | | | expensive and risky approach of building a |
| Open source applications may be customized by | | | | bespoke site from scratch First Rate uses a |
| anyone with the requisite skill. Thus, open | | | | proven base system and simply plugs in proven |
| source software can be readily adapted to | | | | modules as required. |