| In combining Open Source software and | | | | other words, even if you make the wrong |
| offshore development, high quality, cost | | | | choice in outsource software development |
| effective software is more easily obtainable. | | | | partner, your code, your infrastructure will |
| In fact, I suggest Open Source should always | | | | still be based on Open Source which can be |
| be a part of any outsourced software | | | | parlayed to different developers much faster |
| development, but that is a different topic. | | | | than completely original code. In the worst |
| The focus of this article is how Open Source | | | | case scenario, if the software being |
| provides a foundation of trust and confidence | | | | developed is not Open Source based, it will |
| when using and/or providing offshore software | | | | be much more difficult to replace the |
| development services. | | | | developers. |
| | | | |
| When purchasing software development | | | | "Open Source" can mean different things to |
| services, many people make the mistake of | | | | different people. In this article, my |
| assuming that the only reason to choose one | | | | definition of Open Source is intended to mean |
| person/company over another are pure coding | | | | complete products, tools, libraries, etc. |
| skills. Simple as that right? Wrong. | | | | with a vibrant community. (Read Succeeding |
| Developers also assume the person/company | | | | with Open Source for one reference on |
| procuring software development cares deeply | | | | choosing Open Source software) It does not |
| about Java vs. .Net vs. PHP vs. RoR. Wrong. | | | | simply mean the delivery of source code with |
| Well, ok, maybe both of these points are not | | | | the solution. In particular, the Open Source |
| entirely wrong. Yes, people do care about | | | | product, tool and or library needs to have |
| coding prowess and technology infrastructure, | | | | other established resources, so new |
| but I believe there are many other factors | | | | developers time spent analyzing code and |
| when making an outsourcing decision. | | | | infrastructure can be reduced. New |
| | | | developers to the project will spend much |
| People who purchase software want to have | | | | more time "getting up to speed" on |
| confidence and trust in the people they | | | | architecture, if the software is not using |
| choose to develop software. Confidence and | | | | community based Open Source software. |
| trust can be earned over time, but how does | | | | |
| it start? Well, of course, the software | | | | When implementing an outsource development |
| developer(s) needs to have good references, | | | | strategy, choose developers that will use |
| case studies, professionalism and applicable | | | | Open Source software in the overall solution. |
| skill sets. But, even after reviewing these | | | | Using Open Source in the solution provides a |
| factors, there might still be nagging doubts | | | | shorter path to confidence and trust in |
| about trusting someone you have never met and | | | | outsourced software developers. Put another |
| the person or company was not a referral from | | | | way, open source plays a positive part in the |
| one of your contacts. | | | | risk management of the decision to outsource. |
| | | | By choosing offshore software development |
| Open source software is the foundation for | | | | partners that deliver based on community |
| confidence and trust when choosing to | | | | established Open Source with appropriate |
| outsource software development. It is the | | | | license for your needs, quality and the most |
| catalyst to an acceptable answer to the "what | | | | competitive cost can be obtained. |
| is the worst that can happen" scenario. In | | | | |