FOSS

"[Free &] Open Source Software (FOSS) is software where the source code (the language in which the program is written) is freely distributed with the right to modify the code, and on the condition that redistribution is not restricted, and indeed is obtainable for no more than the reasonable cost of reproduction. It has leapt to prominence by starting to take a significant share in some specific parts of the software infrastructure market ...
... FOSS is indeed the start of a fundamental change in the software infrastructure market and UK Government must take cognisance of that fact."

The above quote is taken from Open Source Software within the UK Government -- A UK Government policy document issued to promote the use of FOSS in all publicly funded organisations.

We use and develop FOSS in all of our work and have set-out some of the benefits below:

Benefits for Purchasers

The most obvious beneficiary of the FOSS model is the immediate purchaser of the software. Freedom to modify and distribute software, without pre-conditions, liberates organisational forward-planning and expenditure decisions.

The freedom to contract support and continuing development from multiple suppliers prevents the 'vendor lock-in' syndrome; this is where the original supplier leverages the customer's lack of options for vital upgrades and bugfixes to secure a continued income stream.

All software development is at the mercy of the developer's release schedules and internal priorities; smaller organisations find that they have little or no influence over the evolution of software developed by larger companies. FOSS allows smaller organisations to develop their own extensions to suit their needs.

Benefits for Content Owners

Software handles data and information; content owners and creators need stable platforms and Open Standards that will outlast the initial commission/development stages of a project. Software that is required to access important information needs to have a lifetime longer than the typical lifespan of a Software Publisher. FOSS guarantees that the software can live as long as the data.

Benefits for Software Developers

Only some of the benefits of the FOSS model accrue to the developers. Importantly, the availability of existing high quality FOSS code libraries and tools allows the developer to concentrate on innovation rather than reinventing the wheel all the time. Consequently, a greater proportion of developer resources is spent on design and quality issues.

By freeing the product, small developers can compete with larger suppliers. There is much less risk involved in a FOSS purchasing decision, as the prospect of the continued existence of the original supplier is not critical to long-term success.

Benefits for End-Users

The FOSS model typically allows much more interaction with the software itself. Since the software is self-documenting, problems can be dealt with when encountered by technically minded users (or by users with technically minded friends). Closed Source models leave users with just three options for self-help: Retry, Reboot and Reinstall.

Benefits for Security

It's difficult to quantify the apparent lead of FOSS in the field of security and stability; after all, quality workmanship is the same all-over, there is no reason to suppose that FOSS programmers are intrinsically more talented. However, there is evidence that the free exposure of code to a wider community encourages mutual criticism and allows best practices to come to the foreground.

Benefits for Growth

By sharing and communicating with the wider FOSS community, developers form networks of expertise. These pockets of high-tech industry are extremely fluid and adaptable. The rapid development of the FOSS industries and associated skills is a sign of huge growth potential in this segment of the economy.

Document Links

Open Source Software within the UK government
Version 2 of the UK Government's policy on Free and Open Source Software -- issued in October 2004
http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/documents/oss_policy_version2.pdf
This document was last modified on 2009-03-03 12:22:19.
Copyright: Public Domain