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