Open Source Software

(Note: This is a reprint from our June 2003 Newsletter)

By now you have probably heard about Open Source Software, and wondered what it was all about.

We thought we might do a bit of a Q&A session on open source software this newsletter that might explain some things about open source software to you.

Question: So what’s the deal with open source software?

Answer: Well, it’s free, basically.

Question: Your kidding right?

Answer: No, it’s free.

Question: So what’s wrong with it?

Answer: Well, nothing really.

Question: So how come it’s free?

Answer: Because the people that make it are not seeking to make profit from moving units of software.

Question: How can they afford to do that?

Answer: A couple of reasons; 1) unlike creating physical commodities, the incremental cost to create a copy of a piece of software is effectively zero. 2) The development is usually funded either by donation, or by businesses that have a business model that doesn’t involve selling software.

Question: But you get what you pay for right? So I imagine this stuff isn’t much good?

Answer: Actually it’s quite good; in many cases it is equal to or better than the commercial equivalent. As for getting what you pay for, remember that the incremental cost to make a second copy is zero.

Question: So what sorts of free software is there?

Answer: All sorts; operating system software, such as Linux and FreeBSD, free server software including mail servers (Sendmail, Postfix) , file sharing (Samba), databases (MySQL, Postgres) and web servers (Apache). Also, software for the desktop including office suites (Open Office), photo and picture tools (The GIMP), Email clients, encryption and VPN tools and more.

Question: But you couldn’t run a whole business on it could you?

Answer: Maybe, maybe not, it depends on what specialist software you may need, and what platforms it will run on.

Question: So who is responsible for supporting it?

Answer: No one, it does come as is with no warranty. However most open source products are supported strongly by their developers as well as the community of people using the products. You can almost always find help, and usually someone has had exactly the same problem as you before.

Question: So there is no one to sue if something goes wrong?

Answer: True, but do you seriously think you could sue Microsoft if something went wrong with their software.

Question: So it’s free, how else does it help?

Answer: In many cases it is more stable, but heh, isn’t free enough? MS Office Pro is running over $1000 per licence, and you can get open office for nothing.

Question: So if I got this open office thing I could do all the stuff that MS Office does?

Answer: Pretty much. There are sometimes issues opening MS Office files with open office, but you can always ask your correspondent to send it to you in another “standard” format (MS Office is not a standard format, although it is a defacto standard). As for sending stuff to clients, you should be using a PDF format anyway, to prevent clients from trivially changing the content.

Question: So what are the other problems?

Answer: Well, you also want to make sure that you pick the winners in terms of choosing open source software that has been around for a while and should continue to be well supported. This is usually easy enough though, particularly if you consult someone in the know. There can also be issues with compatibility, a bit like Open Office. Once again, consult with those in the know.

Question: Okay, so you save money, it is as reliable or better, with no unmanageable problems. Why isn’t everyone doing this?

Answer: Open Source Software doesn’t have money to run expensive marketing campaigns. Many people are simply not aware that it exists. Add to that a strong misinformation campaign by software vendors (people that make money selling software) and you have a combination of ignorance, and unjustified skepticism.

Hope you enjoyed the Q&A session. If you have more questions than answers at this stage feel free to drop a line to the office.