| Free and open source software has become the | | | | Anyone is free to make any changes to software |
| newest craze in business and IT world. The second | | | | suites or programs released under Open Source |
| question is it good for my business now takes a | | | | License. Anyone can add, edit and make modifications |
| secondary position. Both business owners and | | | | to make the program work in any imaginable manner. |
| managers agree to the use of free and open source | | | | The modifier is also allowed to resell the software. |
| software. | | | | Only restriction on such an open source license is that |
| The real buzz about open source is not hyped by | | | | you have to provide access to the source code that |
| any corporation or company. It is a group of self | | | | you have modified or added. It is however not |
| motivated IT professionals from across America and | | | | necessary to release source code of the |
| Europe are behind this newfound attraction of open | | | | modifications made to the original program if it is not |
| source software. | | | | distributed or sold. The developer company is free to |
| The main advantage of open source software is that | | | | use it for their own in house purposes. Whenever |
| the users have full control over the source code of | | | | they sell it in the market, they have to license it |
| any program delivered under open source license. | | | | under Open Source agreement. |
| Now people become more and more sensitized about | | | | Open source software projects, in most cases |
| the advantages of having access to the root of a | | | | attract the fancy of skilled developers from around |
| program. | | | | the world. They actively participate in collaborative |
| The main advantages that come with access to | | | | development, fixing bugs and adding useful features. |
| source code are Flexibility or adaptability, control, | | | | The end result will be a completely different |
| lowest possible costs, long term usage and upgrading | | | | software, may be many times useful than the original |
| without additional costs. The business house has to | | | | one. |
| pay for coders and developers though. | | | | |