OPEN SOURCE: Free speech - not free beer

?Free? software

• The phrases Open Source and Free Software are often used interchangeably. The two movements are separate but related: open source is based around practicality and applications, while Free Software is a social movement considering the ethical questions behind the development of software.

Open source v proprietary

• Advocates of open source software believe that its advantages over proprietary software include:
• the ability for developers to customise software for the purpose of undertaking specific tasks within a single company;
• the opportunity for thousands of developers at any one time to work together on fixing bugs in the software.
• In areas such as desktop applications and database software, proprietary applications are still regarded as the most advanced and reliable, but this attitude is beginning to change as a new breed of open source applications emerges.

Involvement of major players

• Linux server operating systems are now offered by several of the major software companies, including Sun Microsystems, IBM, Hewlett Packard and Dell.
• These players add credibility to OSS which was previously in short supply. The confusion around the meaning of ?free software? meant that many organisations perceived OSS to be cheap, and this made them unwilling to rely on these tools to run their business systems.

Government

• The European Commission has recommended the creation of a clearing house of OSS solutions to which European governments can both contribute and derive software. OSS solutions are now also being used in a range of UK government departments.
• These developments are likely to encourage companies which work closely with government to investigate the potential benefits of implementing OSS solutions.

Drivers and Barriers to take-up

• Lower costs and flexibility are evident drivers of the uptake of OSS solutions, but there remain problems of perception concerning reliability and a reluctance amongst big businesses in particular to depart from traditional working practices because of the level of disruption which may be caused.

Who?s using Open Source Software

• Open source software is no longer the exclusive realm of a small minority of ?techies? and programmers. In an OpenForum Europe survey in 2002, CIOs and financial directors in financial services, retail and the public sector were interviewed; 37% of CIOs said they were already using Open Source software, and 49% expected to be using it in the future.
• In addition to public sector and financial services, open source options have been used most prominently in the oil, automotive and retail sectors. In addition, the use of open source software for special effects and graphical work is now widespread.

Implications of using OSS

• The major implications of OSS for both the public and private sectors will be measured in terms of cost savings. However, the cost of licensing software is not the focus of likely cost savings. An IT department using OSS would save most money on system integration and development, and from interoperability between different types of computer platform.
• For content providers, the cost savings and must be weighed against the conflict between open source solutions and digital rights management. In particular, the use of open source solutions could well clash with the embedding of DRM systems within hardware - the current holy grail for the music and movie industries in particular.

The future

• The likely growth in OSS - sparked by some obvious advantages and growing support in public sector and commercial circles - may cause the shape of the software development industry itself to change. Traditional software companies may need to develop new skills based around