Open Source Benefits
You may or may not have heard of the term 'open source' before, if you have you may not understand what it means or you may have a partial understanding. At Red, Incorporated, we make extensive use of open source software products, particularly for our Internet services, so 'open source' is a key part of the strategy for our business, and also for how we will serve your business. So, what does open source mean? In the article below we will try to summarize the meaning - as well point out the benefits to your business and provide some links to further reading on the subject.
What is Open Source Software?
Here is a definition that we like:
Computer programs or operating systems for which the source code is publicly available. Inherent in the open source philosophy is the freedom of a distributed community of programmers to modify and improve the code. Theoretically, through the collective work of many programmers, the resulting software can become more useful and free of holes and bugs. The most widely known example of open-source software is the Linux operating system; others include Apache, the dominant software for servers that dish out corporate web pages.
How Does it Benefit my Business?
Some of the benefits of open source software are:
- Increased security
- Increased reliability
- Better support
- Lower Cost
- More flexibility and extensibility
- Decrease reliance on software vendors
- Freedom from licensing hassles/expenses
More interesting reading on the topic:
Some Open Source Products We Use
