Open Source Software - Research Paper Example

Open Source Software Definition An open-source software (OSS) is a kind of computer software which is in the form of source code. In the OSS, the source code as well as rights that are commonly meant only for the copyright holders can be acquired under the open-source license which allows the users to read, use, change, modify, and even distribute the software. As the name suggests the OSS is usually made in a collaborative way with the input from a wide variety of sources. It is one of the most important examples of the open-source style of development. Background of open-source software In the year 1983, the movement of free software was launched. A group of people suggested the replacement of the term free software with the term open source software (OSS) in the year 1998 because the latter was more convenient and less vague for the corporate world as compared to the former. The benefit of publishing a software with the license of an open source software is that the it allows everybody to understand the way the software functions and in turn, develop a similar software. The open source software offers much more flexibility as compared to other kinds of software in that the users can modify the open source software, port the software to the processor architects, advertise the software, market it, and share it with other users. The Open Source Initiative publishes a document titled “The Open Source Definition” which defines the criteria for the labeling of a software license as the open source, so that the software may acquire the certification mark of open source. There is an open source philosophy ingrained in the open source definition. It defines several aspects of the open source software that include but are not limited to the terms of usage, terms of modification, as well as the principles of redistribution of the software. Through getting their softwares licensed, the users acquire the rights that are otherwise not given by the copyright holder. Numerous licenses of open source software are included in the Open Source Definition. A prime example of these licenses is the GNU General Public License (GPL) that grants the users the right to distribute the software freely provided that any modifications and developments are included in the same license. “The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time” (opensource.org, n.d.). With the open source distribution, a product’s source code becomes accessible to the public whereas such access can be fine tuned by the authors using the open source licenses. Classification of OSS The OSS can be broadly classified into three main types namely Vendor OSS, Community OSS, and Hybrid OSS. Vendor OSS The Vendor OSS is also known as Community based OSS. This is a type of OSS that is mainly made and produced by a company. In a vast majority of cases, the vendor of this software develops a product’s version that exists in a community edition and can be downloaded free of cost. There is no support with the community edition and its functionality is lesser than that of the commercial version, that is also known as the Enterprise version or the Professional version. The examples of Vendor OSS include but are not limited to Jaspersoft, BonitaSoft, SugarCRM, Inforbright, and Talend. “Talend's data integration solutions provide a powerful set of tools to meet any integration requirement, from basic transformations to the most complex operational integration issues, data migration & capture, as well as data replication, synchronization and application upgrades” (Talend, 2012). Community Based OSS As the name implies, there is a community of people that develops and manages the Community Based OSS. In most of the cases, the software is developed by a group of people in the community, that can be joined by anyone. The examples of this type of software include Netscape, GNU Compiler Collection, and Apache. “The Apache projects are defined by collaborative consensus based processes, an open, pragmatic software license and a desire to create high quality software that leads the way in its field” (apache.org, 2012). Hybrid OSS The Hybrid OSS comes from the community based system when a company develops with the open source project. Pre-packaged software releases are sold by the company that develops these softwares. In addition to that, the company provides support, and training and development in the use of these softwares. The company also forms and provides customizations as well as proprietary add-ons to the open source addition. “In hybrid open source business models, some of the software products are released using a business friendly open source license, but some of the special source code add-ons are only available for a fee” (Groen, 2011). Linux and postgreSQL are some examples of the Hybrid OSS. Funding of open-source software People can get the open source software free of charge. The users are not required by the developers of the software to fund the development with the license fee. There are numerous alternative funding models. For example, sometimes the OSS is developed for the customers as a consulting project. The customers are required to compensate the developers for such works as addition of features or provision of bugs. The consultants may charge the customers for the installation of software, provision of technical support, training, and the software’s customization. In other cases, the software is provided free of charge, but the licenses are sold to such proprietary add-ons as the data libraries. Use of open-source software Many universities around the world have started research projects that involve the use of open source software. These softwares are both used as the personal projects of the researchers or the faculty members, and as aid in the scientific research. The massive effect of the research institutions and universities upon the open source can be assessed from the myriad of projects that have been named after them like Apache, CMU Common Lisp, and BSD Unix. Many companies recruit the developers and assign them the open source projects that are needed for the infrastructure of the company. In such cases, the open source software is developed as a kind of shared public utility rather than a product which can be sold. Merits and demerits of open source software Numerous merits and demerits of the open source software have been identified by the researchers and software experts. The prime merit of the open-source software for a business is that it provides the business with a way to obtain increased penetration in the market. Organizations offering the open source software gain competitive advantage by establishing a standard in the industry. The open source software has played a big role in building the developer loyalty since it lends a feeling of ownership and empowerment to the developers. In addition to that, the costs of logistics and marketing required for the open source software are low. Moreover, “an open development model is the only way to foster badly-needed cloud standards, remove the fear of proprietary lock-in for cloud customers, and create a large ecosystem that spans cloud providers” (oss-institute.org, 2012). Some of the open source software initiatives have not been quite successful in the past. Examples of such softwares include but are not limited to Eazel and SourceXchange. Open source softwares are occasionally criticized for unclear process, lack of empirical proofs as the most significant problems, and late discovery of defects. References: apache.org. (2012). The Apache Software Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.apache.org/. Groen, P. (2011, Nov. 15). Hybrid Open Source Software Development & Business Models. Open Health News. Retrieved from http://www.openhealthnews.com/blogs/groenpj/2011-11-15/hybrid-open-source-software-development-business-models. opensource.org. (n.d.). The Open Source Definition (Annotated). Open Source Initiative. Retrieved from http://opensource.org/osd.html/. oss-institute.org. (2012). Why open matters. Open Source Software Institute. Retrieved from http://oss-institute.org/. Talend. (2012). Data Management Solutions. 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