What is Open Source Software?
Written by Denise Witter Friday, 22 May 2009 11:46
What is Open Source Software?
Open source software is freedom.
It gives you choices.
Open source gives you the choice to not be locked-in (or locked-out depending upon how you want to look at it) to a particular vendor or product. It puts you in the driver seat and allows your needs to be met.
Have you ever felt that you've invested your hard earned money into a software product and then after time the product doesn't really fit your needs anymore? Perhaps your business model has adapted to the times, or your business has just outgrown the original software product. Open source software is a good solution to that problem. With open source, you can have a developer customize a software program to your particular needs.
Is Open Source Software right for my business?
Using an open source product will cut costs because there is no upfront purchasing.
That's right.
Open source is free in cost and free in expression. If you're tech savvy then you're all set. If you're not tech savvy then you can hire a developer to work with you on set-up and support. It's like having your own tech department but without the overhead.
The open source community is wide and you have many choices among developers to hire. Plus, by nature, the open source community is helpful and willing to share advice.
There's a great definition listed by the Open Source Initiative that explains it in easy to read terminology.
