Open source is a general software license that has revolutionized the software development industry. Before open source software development was limited to the combined effort of a few corporate-hired software engineers working in small groups. The open source movement has changed the way the software is developed. Open source uses broad community-based development techniques that replace a small group of profesional programmers with a large base of experienced individuals. While most large corporations are reluctant to give up the proprietary business model, some have started to realize the benefits of open source in the development of their software. In fact, free open source software, when coupled with service and support, can be profitable for major corporations. This website contains valuable information regarding the open source movement’s advantages, disadvantages, and its repercussions on the global software market.
Open source and proprietary developers have been in a heated battle over market share.
But with billions of dollars in the corporate pocket, are the open sourcers fighting an uphill battle?
Software companies from across the world have embraced the open source business model. From flavors of Linux to enterprise-class web server software, an increasing number of software companies are opening their source code to developers. Examples of this practice can be found almost everywhere. File sharing programs like Limewire have an open source model which pays private programmers to update small parts of the program. Sourceforge.net, arguably the largest online open source community, has pioneered the collaboration of open source projects. To date, they have nearly 1.25 million users and over 100 thousand projects. Sun Microsystems, a publicly traded corporation, has begun to make source for popular software like Solaris and Java open. These movements towards open source represent the general trend in the software industry.
Open source software has filled a void left by the proprietary giants. Utilities that would normally be overlooked by major corporations are being developed by individuals and shared around the world. These small programs can prove useful for both private end users and small businesses. The future of software development depends on peoples ability to openly share source amoung developers and to effectivly deliver final products to end users.
Fedora Core 4, an open source opperating system, is shown here in full swing.
Check out these links for good open source software!
Migration. It is difficult for end-users and development companies to drop their proprietary software to move to an open source model. Immature. Open source software has inexperienced developers as compared to professional developers of proprietary software companies. Hard to Deploy. Most open source software solutions don’t have GUI, making it nearly impossible for many end users to install the software.
Lacking support. Since there is no monetary incentive, open source projects can lose steam over time while proprietary software is continually improved.
But with billions of dollars in the corporate pocket, are the open sourcers fighting an uphill battle?
Open Source Programming
Open source software has filled a void left by the proprietary giants. Utilities that would normally be overlooked by major corporations are being developed by individuals and shared around the world. These small programs can prove useful for both private end users and small businesses. The future of software development depends on peoples ability to openly share source amoung developers and to effectivly deliver final products to end users.
Fedora Core 4, an open source opperating system, is shown here in full swing.Sourceforge.net
Opensource.org
mySQL.com
Red Hat Linux
Sun Microsystems
Proprietary software, unlike open source software, is a pay-to-use service. Propriety software is developed by a small number of professionals working in a corporate think tank. These companies, to protect their intellectual property, provide the end user with only the binary code of a program (the part that only a computer can read). Because these companies make money by selling their programs, rather than their support packages, the source code proves invaluable.
Although the general trend of software development companies is to go open source, the biggest companies have resisted the temptation of open source. Microsoft, the infamous software giant, has been a leader in the proprietary software business model since the dawn of the computer age. Apple, the company holding the second largest share of the market, is also strictly proprietary. Apple even manufactures proprietary hardware, specific to Apple software. The fact that the two largest companies in the software industry have resisted opening their source code shows that proprietary software is still alive and profitable.
Apple computers have always dominated the multi-media market and are a strong force for proprietary software
Check out the following links to proprietary software companies:
Advantages And DisadvantagesOpensource.org
mySQL.com
Red Hat Linux
Sun Microsystems
Closed Source Programming
Although the general trend of software development companies is to go open source, the biggest companies have resisted the temptation of open source. Microsoft, the infamous software giant, has been a leader in the proprietary software business model since the dawn of the computer age. Apple, the company holding the second largest share of the market, is also strictly proprietary. Apple even manufactures proprietary hardware, specific to Apple software. The fact that the two largest companies in the software industry have resisted opening their source code shows that proprietary software is still alive and profitable.
Apple computers have always dominated the multi-media market and are a strong force for proprietary softwareMigration. It is difficult for end-users and development companies to drop their proprietary software to move to an open source model. Immature. Open source software has inexperienced developers as compared to professional developers of proprietary software companies. Hard to Deploy. Most open source software solutions don’t have GUI, making it nearly impossible for many end users to install the software.
Lacking support. Since there is no monetary incentive, open source projects can lose steam over time while proprietary software is continually improved.
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