Many public and private organizations of all sizes might be missing out
on the benefits of open source software (OSS) because they simply don't
understand how it could benefit their enterprise. Chief information
officers (CIOs) and IT departments that do see the benefits of exploring
OSS are often put off by the ongoing debates about risk, licensing,
support, and maturity of open source. And, those organizations that do
explore OSS often employ a misguided one-size-fits-all approach to
evaluation, selection, utilization, and management within the company.
This type of thinking about OSS is causing many IT organizations to miss
out on the ongoing practical value that can be realized from using what
is now a vast and diverse toolkit of useful software components.
What is open-source software?
In general, open source refers to any program whose source code is made
available for use or modification as users or other developers see fit.
Historically, the makers of proprietary software have generally not made
source code available. OSS is usually developed as a public
collaboration and made freely available. The OSS license tends to favor
the end-users of the software, as opposed to a propriety license, which
favors the software vendor.
Linux, the operating system that's part of the family of UNIX-based
OSes, is one of the most popular open-source software products. Linux
has become popular primarily because it is available free of charge and
has a large development and user community. Linux is also often the OS
of choice for Internet servers, used on almost a third of all Web
servers in the world.
Another very popular open-source software program that's gaining entry
into millions of Windows- and Mac-based computing environments is the
Foxfire Web browser by Mozilla. Many Firefox users couldn't be bothered
to alter or even look at its source code; they only like the program
because it's stable and reliable.
Know the benefits
Many CIOs start out wanting to use open-source software because it
reduces development effort and costs, thereby saving the business money.
However, after practical implementation, they soon realize there are
several other benefits that might be more significant and longer
lasting.
In fact, a good-sized portion OSS is actually aimed at speeding up
enterprise software development, simplifying system management and
maintenance, and improving software quality. Enterprises that learn to
think about OSS as a solution to their holistic enterprise development
needs will find several opportunities to improve the efficiency of their
business and IT organizations, and lower the cost of building and
operating enterprise systems.
-- It's easy to procure. There is no doubt that OSS can dramatically
lower the total cost of ownership of enterprise systems, but one of the
greatest benefits of using free software is often overlooked: OSS
eliminates the pressure to make big decisions up front about what is
needed before it is needed.
-- It's fit for purpose. OSS that is not easy to install, use, and
manage does not survive. Since open-source code is scrutinized by
thousands of developers worldwide, OSS developers are forced to keep
their software as straightforward and lean as possible. They must limit
their feature set to what is required right now and add features as
their users request them. Unnecessarily complicated and bloated products
with large footprints--such as most commercial application servers--are
uncommon and short-lived in the open-source realm.
-- It's easy to change. Using OSS increases the options and the amount
of control that can be exercised when developing, enhancing, evolving,
and retiring enterprise systems. Open access to source code means that a
software developer can always enhance, fix, or otherwise alter any
open-source component at any time.
-- It's high quality. The methods used to develop OSS naturally favor
the production of software that can often be higher quality than most
other software, bespoke or commercial. Each OSS project is run like a
small and efficient software business. The software is generally
developed in cycles, each of which plans to release a new stable
production version to the majority of users, who require predictability
and reliability.
-- Employees like it. The people factor shouldn't be discounted. Working
with new, cutting edge software might help attract, retain, and motivate
internal IT professionals, leading to greater productivity over time.
Gaining the OSS advantage
Open-source software is here to stay. A properly implemented approach
that addresses application ownership and copyright issues will help
drive productivity, reduce risk and save money.
There are hundreds of tools and middleware in the OSS toolkit that are
ready for prime time use in the enterprise IT environment. Depending
upon specific requirements, OSS can be used to create a complete
enterprise solution, or mixed and matched to complement commercial
software. In either case, there is no reason to wait.
OSS is already an essential part of providing the fastest and most
efficient enterprise solutions, and this trend will continue well into
the future. Companies that take time today to select, evaluate, and
apply OSS to their specific requirements will realize widespread
benefits that are immediate, ongoing, and lasting.
Cyndi Mitchell >cmitchell@ thoughtworks.com< is a senior architect at
ThoughtWorks, a maker of custom software solutions.
