| What is Open Source Software? | | | | Who Pays for Open Source Development? |
| Open Source Software (OSS) is software that is | | | | Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject |
| available under a special license that allows everyone | | | | are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the |
| to access the program code as well as the | | | | complete picture. |
| executable program. This means that anyone is able | | | | The ability to customise software is critical to allow |
| to edit the program code and therefore customise | | | | an organisation to continue to improve their business |
| the software for their own needs. | | | | processes, but how does a company afford to pay |
| This ability to access the source code is protected | | | | for such customisations? |
| by the license under which the software is released. | | | | One of the side effects of allowing any user access |
| There is a great many Open Source licenses, but | | | | to the source code is that the cost of acquiring the |
| they all have one thing in common, they protect the | | | | software in the first instance is massively reduced. In |
| right of the user of the software to access and | | | | most cases the source code is available for no cost. |
| modify it in any way they desire. | | | | This enables the user to divert resources normally |
| This ability to modify applications is in direct contrast | | | | allocated to pay software license fees into enhancing |
| to the Closed Source Software model. In Closed | | | | the software. |
| Source only the creator of the application has access | | | | A successful Open Source Software project has a |
| to the source code, and therefore, only the creator | | | | large community of software developers. Many of |
| is able to modify the application. | | | | these developers work as independent contractors |
| Being able to change the way an Open Source | | | | and can be employed to customise the software, |
| Software application operates is critical in many | | | | alternatively, if a company has internal developer |
| business environments. No two businesses are | | | | resources, they can leverage those skills to perform |
| identical and therefore it is unlikely that any one piece | | | | the customisations. |
| of software will satisfy the needs of all potential | | | | Does it Really Work? |
| users. Without the ability to modify their software a | | | | This all sounds fantastic, but does it really work? Are |
| company is restricted in its operations by that | | | | there Open Source Applications in use in the real |
| software. | | | | world? |
| While it is true that no two businesses are identical, it | | | | Here are a few facts to convince you that it most |
| is also true that there are a great many common | | | | certainly does work: |
| business practices that are repeated across | | | | - Around 70% of web sites are served by the Open |
| organisations. These common practices can be well | | | | Source Apache HTTPD server. |
| served by "standard" software. The remaining | | | | - In a 2002 survey it was found over 31% of UK and |
| practices, those that are different from competitors | | | | nearly 42% of German companies were using or |
| are, typically, the ones that give a business an | | | | planning to use OSS. |
| advantage in the marketplace. | | | | - In 2001, Debian (an Open Source Operating |
| Since these non-standard practices are key to the | | | | System), contained over 55 million lines of code and |
| organisations success it is critical that any software | | | | was estimated to have consumed over 14,000 |
| solutions adopted by the company also support | | | | person years in development time. That is a |
| these non-standard processes. It is in this need to | | | | development cost of around 1.89 Billion Dollars (US) |
| adapt software to a companies specific needs that | | | | yet it is still available with no license fees. |
| makes Open Source Software attractive. Since the | | | | Hopefully the sections above have contributed to |
| company has access to the source, the application | | | | your understanding of OSS. Share your new |
| can be freely adapted to suit the unique | | | | understanding about OSS with others. They'll thank |
| requirements of each user. | | | | you for it. |