Evaluation of Open Source Operating System - Assignment Example

Evaluation of Open Source Operating System Introduction During the recent past the open source operating systems have become one of the most popular and sought out area in the computer software industry. There are reasons for the increased interest in the opens source operating systems like the success of products like Linux and Apache, the growing uneasiness about the monopolistic attitude of Microsoft and the feeling among the developers and practitioners that the classical and traditional approaches to software development are not able to act as a satisfactory tool for effective and reliable software applications. This has given rise to instances of increased evaluation of available open source systems for their ability and adaptability. This essay describes some of the issues in the evaluation of the open source operating systems. Open Source Operating Systems An operating system can be defined as "Software controlling the overall operation of a multipurpose computer system, including tasks such as memory allocation, input and output distribution, interrupt processing, and job scheduling". The open source systems were found during the 1980s with the development of a free version of 'Unix' by Richard Freeman. The open source system becomes interesting to user groups such as the individual users who use the open source systems in industrial and academic areas mostly in the non-software areas. There are also companies who concentrate their efforts on open source software like Sun and IBM who consider the open source systems as an opportunity to undermine the monopoly of Microsoft in the computer software. The third group of users is public institutions sand government agencies especially in the Europe who consider the use of open source systems as a viable alternative for US technology and because of the increased safety and security that can be built in the open source systems. Definition and Functions of Open source Systems (OSS) Originally at the time of initial developments the software were known as 'free software' as defined by the GNU project. The term 'open source' has been coined later and according to Stallman it is an attempt to express the same kind of concept as that of a free software but with a more prudent and palatable approach. The functions of OSS include: (a) Facilitating and monitoring user interface (b) Effective job management to save computer usage time (c) Efficient task management to act as an aid to facilitate multi-task completions (d) Efficient data management to accommodate more volume of data (e) Better device management for an efficient handling of the associated hardware and (f) Ensuring the security of data which is the foremost requirement of any efficient operating system The OSSs are considered important from the point of view of stability and performance of the selected system. The OSS must also be of low cost and a good protector of the security of the data passing through the system. Reasons for Examining the Open Source Operating Systems The examination of the open source operating systems becomes important due to the following reasons: The importance and utility of the OSS have been increasingly felt in the computer industry which necessitates a closer examination of the features of OSS It is also relevant to study the history of OSS to understand the effectiveness of these systems in contributing to the software industry With the study of various OSS it would be possible to gain a deep insight into the various licensing models of the OSS. This is particularly helpful in a practical environment where these systems may have to be employed An examination of the OSS will lead to an understanding of the proportion of the usage of OSS in the total operating systems market. 'Linux' is one of the popular examples of the open source operating system that is available in the market. This system carries certain distinct advantages like low cost, stability in operations, superior performance, flexibility, and easiness in installation. The system can undertake a multi-tasking performance and the data are well protected under the Linux environment. There are other systems like Amoeba, Free Dos, B-Free, e-Cos, KROS, Open Solaris and Inferno available in the market. As opposed to the open source systems there are 'Proprietary Operating Systems' like Microsoft systems and Mac systems which are available only on payment of the prescribed price of the respective systems. The proprietary systems are normally considered superior to open sources in the areas of collaboration and project management, end user support, integration of data and other applications and also on the security of data being processed. Comparison of Repositories As a part of the evaluation process of the open source a comparison of various repositories can be undertaken by reaching for specific information related to the OSS. The repositories offer different facilities and there are different methods that can be employed to obtain the information on the repositories. A comparison of the repositories can be undertaken by finding the source codes of the OSS. The information on the ways in which the open sourcing systems are released and the evidences on how branching and merging take place in the OSS shall be the base for evaluation of the OSS. The repositories include the SourceForge, Freshmeat, Google code and Source Bank. It is necessary to visit several repositories to find relevant information for evaluation. It is a fact that some repositories are easier than others. For instance SourceForge is visually more appealing than other repositories visited. Out of the four repositories mentioned, Source Forge and Freshmeat are the repositories which cater to the needs of the end users. Google code and SourceBank are better suited for programmers as they provide source codes for projects. Issues in Developing Open Source Software There are certain issues bound to occur while the development of open source software is taken for processing. The following are some of the key issues during the development process of OSS: (a) Parallel Development and Debugging (b) Rapid Release Rate (c) Independent Peer Review and (d) Prompt Feedback A comparison of the above features of the open source system with a proprietary system may bring out the superiority of one over another. There are three different models of OSS development process: 'Cathedral Model' has the characteristics of controlling by individuals or smaller teams. This model always relies on strict release schedule and it is possible to employ strict control and a proper deployment of resources. However there is the necessity of an extensive feasibility and other kinds of analysis to be undertaken before the development process is started. Contrary to 'Cathedral Model' 'Bazaar Model' is developed by large team of contributors having different skill levels. There is no need to undertake detailed analysis before coding. The development and direction of the project is not controlled by any one person or group. In open source development the 'Bazaar Model' is always used as the starting point to gain momentum in the development of the OSS. As the project continues its development there comes the scope and importance of a 'hybrid model' encompassing the features of both the cathedral model and the bazaar model. This hybrid model will ensure the development of the project without much confusion. Stakeholders of Open Source Operating Systems The stakeholders of the open source operating system can be identified as Developer Communities User Communities Commercial Organizations and Non-Commercial Organizations The stakeholder groups can be considered as far from mutually exclusive as many users of OSS can also contribute to the development of the systems and hence all developers can be included in the category of users. In the case of commercial and non-commercial enterprises they not only develop OSS products but also serve as advocates and supporters. The developers community can be assumed to be the key stakeholders as they are the main contributors to the code and are the primary agents of change in the systems. Interaction with the Open Source Operating Systems The interaction with the OSS is to be considered on the basis of the 'environments' in which the OSS operate and the patterns of communication. The environment may be 'online' or 'offline' depending on the usage of the OSS. The online environment includes mailing lists, newsgroups or use nets, web based forums and Internet relay chat and other instant messaging systems. The offline environment covers the conferences, workshops, and user groups. The patterns of communication can take the form of synchronous communication that covers all the offline communications and internet relay chat and other messaging systems; or asynchronous communication that include the newsgroups, web forums and mailing lists. Conclusion In view of the rapid development and usage of the open source operating systems it becomes important that there should be a continuous evaluation of the essential features of the system to ensure the adaptability of the systems for the particular industry and application. Read More