Open Source/Free Software Source code is available Extensible Can be changed, modified Freely distributed Copies Modified versions Alternatives to commercial/proprietary software

GNU General Public License (copyleft?) Documents modifications: developer & date Permission to copy, distribute, and/or modify Restrictions may not be added to original code or to modifications No warranty

Examples Linux (approx. 30% of OS market) Apache (approx. 60% of web servers) Sendmail (approx. 40% of servers) MyLibrary

What is the benefit? Better, reliable software Improvements Bug fixes Can be configured to specific needs Access to extended tech support Faster development Efficiency through reuse of code

Why an alternative? Commercial software has become Bloated (the T-bird problem) More difficult to install and run Inflexible Expensive Licenses have become more restrictive

But… IT staff (programmers) cost more than commercial software Most IT staff don’t have the skills Bias towards power users Negatives of decentralization Consistency and compatibility (market share) Experts are in charge?

For More Info… Free Software Foundation: Open Source Initiative: “The Cathedral and the Bazaar” bazaar/ “A Second Look at the ‘Cathedral and the Bazaar’” ezroukov/