The debate about open source software has been going on for years. Should you use open source software for your business? Have you considered the pros and cons?
As a developer, network administrator, project manager, and software user, I've seen some commercial and open source software that is perfect for the job and some that over-promises and under-delivers.
The most common arguments for and against open source software focus on four areas:
Costs
Proponents of open source tout the "free" nature of open source. Actually, this only concerns the initial costs involved. Other costs, such as implementation and training still exist - but they exist for commercial software as well.
Security
Many commercial software vendors believe they have a monopoly on software security. In reality, commercial software upgrades and patches are developed to patch security holes, add features, and fix software bugs. The "security" card is often played to create fear.
Bug fixing
Both sides of the debate argue that they fix bugs faster. In reality, the definition of "fast" is pretty subjective. Bugs are only fixed based on the resources (time, money, staff) available, based on how many users are experiencing the problem, and how loudly they are complaining about it. (And, of course, the media attention paid to the problem).
Capabilities
Both sides argue that their solutions offer better capabilities. Some proponents of open source argue that it can form the basis for a customized solution. However, customizing software can become very costly.
Rather than focus on these areas of dispute, I believe that there are other fundamental arguments that a business should consider when deciding between open source and commercial solutions:
Which software best meets my needs
Any serious search for new software must start with a prioritized list of requirements. Solutions should be evaluated based on how well they meet the requirements, which may mean doing some in-depth research (scanning user forums, etc.) rather than just taking the vendors word for it.
Can the solution be integrated into the existing business environment
Software integration involves looking at Operating Systems, existing software and software relationships, information architecture, and evaluating the capabilities of the end-users.
Does the software enjoy wide community support
Software bugs are usually discovered by the users, and fixes (or work-arounds) are often developed by the same community. The viability of the user community can easily be determined by monitoring user forums, user groups, and websites focused on the software.
Does the software provide the greatest value
The bottom line is which solution provides the greater value. Value can only be measured based on how well the software meets your needs, and which software provides the best return on the total investment for implementation.
While the debate rages on, it is interesting to note some facts about some of the more popular open source software on the web:
The Apache Web Server (an open source web server) accounts for approximately 56% of all web servers on the Internet as of May 2007. Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) runs approximately 31% of all web servers.1
The MySQL database, which comes in open source and enterprise (includes fee-based support) versions, is no longer just for small databases. Sabre Holdings, which owns the online reservation site Travelocity and the corporate reservation system GetThere, uses the MySQL database on Linux to manage its reservation database. The database consists of over 45 clustered servers with over 50 GB of data each.2
An undisputed fact is we make use of open source software every day - often without our knowledge - and it successfully meets the needs of millions of users.
The success of any software isn't based on its licensing agreement, but on its capabilities and how well it meet our specific needs.
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