The open source revolution has taken root and is pointing the way to future software developments. A key driver for this, according to Inus Gouws, a senior information management (IM) consultant at Computer Associates Africa, are the growing is the acceptance of the open source philosophy - the sharing of knowledge for the good of all among like-minded people - than anything else.
"This represents a significant shift in emphasis from the proprietary or non-open source software world, where intellectual capital and source code are closely guarded secrets, available to a select few," he says.
Gouws says detractors often decry open source development practices by pointing out the "free" nature of the software.
"In the commercially orientated business arenas in SA and elsewhere, this notion seems too good to be true," he says. "Can software be freely available at no or very low cost? Is there a solid business case for developing open source applications?"
Gouws says the answer to all these questions is found in the roots of open source development.
"Open software is 'software for the people, by the people`. This is in contrast to the philosophy that is still prevalent in the business community, which is still anchored in the proprietary world and dependent on non-open legacy systems to run, manage and control all business transactions.
"However, times are changing. Open source and non-open philosophies are learning to live side by side as software developers, maintenance experts and other professionals learn to bridge the monopolistic divide and interact with one another.
"Today, more often than not, open source protagonists accept the proprietary system owners` need for confidentiality and secrecy, while proprietary systems supporters are coming to terms with the free-thinking, open-minded position of their opponents."
Gouws says it is this situation that has allowed the open source crusade to gain critical mass and amass sound business credibility.
"There is a wide range of popular open source software systems - including the very latest anti-virus solutions - available for immediate download via the Internet. And there is online support available from a variety of sources to help tailor this software to meet specific business needs."
Gouws says that with the open source community growing in numbers and the acceptance of its "one-for-all" philosophy, when a problem is identified by a user, within hours there could be as many as 40 000 experts from user groups around the world addressing it.
"When the solution is found, it is disseminated among the community, enriching the knowledge base and benefiting all open source users.
"Such a passion for the sharing of knowledge is a powerful tool in the open source armoury and, while not easily understood by the hard-nosed, profit-oriented commercial world, is becoming embraced by it for practical reasons.
"In this light, many open source supporters ask whether the research departments of the proprietary software vendors are as efficient and active as the many thousands of open source developers working 'for the passion` - and are they as swift to react to problems such as viruses and the threats of malware?"
Gouws says many industry watchers maintain that proprietary vendors (including Microsoft, Sun and Unix) will be playing "catch-up" in only a few years time as open source solutions steam ahead in terms of their sophistication and marketplace appeal based on these and other performance-related criteria (not to mention cost).
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