Open Source Software …its not all for the techies. - Dan Coming

Definition: Open Source Not just access to the source code Criteria: –Free redistribution –Source code –Derived work –Integrity of author’s source code –No discrimination against persons, groups, or fields of endeavor –Distribution of the license –License must not be specific to a product –License must not restrict other software

Open-Source Software Examples Netscape Red Hat Linux Domain Name System (DNS) Sendmail ( ) “Live” content on the Internet Gnutella clients

Open Source For computer programmers For businesses For consumers

Computer Programmers “When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing.”

Benefits for Programmers Rapid bug fixes and feature development to meet user needs Code is in the public view so problems are found and fixed rather than kept secret Increased security and reliability

Programmers will not starve 75% of all code used by companies other than software vendors is written in-house, which means jobs for programmers Programmers can make a living customizing software for mid-large sized companies Programmers can sell support for software they developed

Businesses Increased Development Speed Lower Overhead Closeness to the Customer Broader Market

Open-Source Business Plan Support Sellers – give away the software, sell distribution, branding, and after-sale service “Give away the recipe, open a restaurant” Widget Frosting – Hardware companies open- source software to get better drivers Accessorizing – sell books, compatible hardware, or complete systems with pre-installed open- source software

Consumers Reliable, quality software Freedom from legal entanglements –(for example: shrink wrap licensing)

More info on Open-Source Open Source Initiative –about open-source – The GNU project –an open-source project – The Source Forge –a large resource of open-source software –

Questions?