About Open Source Development
Open Source development is a whole conception which reflects not only software product features but also developers approach.
Most software that ordinary customers purchase is sold in the compiled ready-to-run version. This means that the source code, created by the original developer, is designed to run through a special program called a compiler. That is why it is nearly impossible to modify the compiled version of most applications and see how they were developed.
A free open source software reflects the opposite point of view. Here the source code is included with the compiled version and modifications or customizations are basically encouraged.
Thus, open source refers to any program whose source code is available for use or modification. Open source software development is usually a public collaboration and made freely available.
To be classified as an open source, a software product should meet some features:
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Free distribution
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Source code is included
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Distribution of the software license
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License must not be specific to a one given product
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Modifications and derived works are allowed
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There must be no discrimination against groups of users
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No discrimination against business fields and technologies in use
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No restriction for other software
A number of companies have been built around a so-called open source business model, where they license their software for free or very inexpensively, but derive their revenues from support and training services.
Open Source Advantages
Open source has impact not only on software development companies and in-house IT departments but also indirectly, through the value chain of the company, on any company’s worker or partner, customer and supplier as well.
Thus open source provides the following benefits:
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Financial costs saving. Generally license purchase requires no fees. But at the same time support and related services can require some additional expenditure. So in other words, the acquisition costs are considerably lower than those of the traditional, proprietary software.
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Lower hardware costs. Usually open source solutions are rather compact and portable, and as a result require less hardware power to accomplish the same tasks.
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Simplified license management. Using open source model one can purchase one license and install the software as many times and in as many locations as it is required.
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Easy integration and interaction. Open source solutions are relatively simple to adapt with other programs because their initial code is opened and developer knows how the program “thinks” and has an opportunity to change open source code.
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Rapid recovery and further development. The error can be corrected by the person who detects the bug with no need to wait for the original programmer.
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Quality software. Researches undertaken prove that open source software products have a good quality level. Usually original developer tries to make the code effective, simple and easy o understand by other developers.
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Scaling. Open source apps are easy to scale.
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Ample support. As the source code is opened for an important number of developers, so it is easier to get the online support.
New versions are typically released much more frequently than closed-source software. With a large body of developers and a frequently updated product, open source software has been championed as a way to build better quality software faster and at a lower cost.
From an investment perspective, it is these large long-time software suppliers that are the real winners because they save on R&D expense as described above and are able to more quickly get to market or buy market share.
See also more detailed information in the sections below:
See, please, this section for more information or contact us.
