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Open source myths
by Toby Ward — The open source revolution is still in its infancy and many myths persist.
Knowing open source as well as he does, Seth Gottlieb from Optaros is well versed in all the mythology and hearsay about open source. Let’s face it, most of us know little about open source (or at least until recently) and yet most have some very definitive, pre-conceived notions about open source.
Seth Gottlieb’s top 8 myths about open source (pro and con)
With some paraphrasing and analysis by the author
Anti-open source myth #1: Open source will cost more
than commercial.
Facts:
- Open source is just a licensing model. It does not describe the quality or functionality of the software
- All CMS are frameworks
- Building from open source is cheaper than from scratch
The shred of truth:
- If you are using open source to build something unique, your project may be expensive
Analysis:
- Open source software is in fact free, but implementation costs can be significant. Usually these costs are less than an off-the-shelf solution, but if you are creating something quite complex and unique then you can expect so spend more. Unless you have an on-staff IT person that is very well versed with the open source technology in question (e.g. Plone) then you should hire an outside firm to implement the software.
Anti-open source myth #2 and 3: open source programmers
are hackers and hobbyists.
Facts:
- A 2002 study found that 45% of open source participants were professional programmers (the number today would be higher)
- A Coverity-Homeland Security Study found a defect rate of .443 per 1,000 lines of code
- Better projects have more rigorous testing and governance practices than some commercial software
The shred of truth:
- Some open source developers code for fun and learning
Analysis:
- The vast majority of open source solutions that you might consider (e.g. Linux, Firefox, Plone, Zope, Joomla, etc.) are built by seasoned professionals who really know their stuff. Like any piece of software whether open source or off-the-shelf, you should never consider any solution that isn’t a known and proven solution for a serious project.
Anti-open source myth #4: open source software is not
supported.
Facts:
- There are three different support models in open source:
- Commercial support (software vendor and third party)
- Consulting support (as needed)
- Community support (posting on the forums)
The shred of truth:
- Only the most mature projects have all three of these options
Analysis:
- As suggested for myths 2 and 3, you should limit your open source choices to well-known and proven solutions for any serious project. Well-known and proven solutions have well established communities of support (www.Plone.org has thousands of users). Also, per myth #1, it is strongly recommended that you use a serious vendor to implement an open source solution for any serious project (e.g. group or enterprise intranet).
Pro-open source myth #1: open source will cost you
NO money!
Facts:
- Software license costs are only 20% - 30% of total content management project costs
- Commercial open source can charge annual maintenance and support fees
The shred of truth:
- The license cost is free and there are choices that will allow you to manage your costs down
Analysis:
- Open source solutions of course still require implementation. Implementation costs for an intranet typically account for 70-80% of a project even with commercial off-the-shelf software.
Pro-open source myth #2: open source makes software
better.
Facts:
- Open source is just a licensing model
- Good development practices are not required
The shred of truth:
- Bad software development practices are more visible in open source software
Analysis:
- Proven commercial software (think Microsoft) has just as many problems as proven open source software. However, it all depends on the solution – not all are created equal.
Pro-open source myth #3: open source = open standards.
Facts:
- Open source is just a licensing model
- Good development practices are not required
The shred of truth:
- Bad software development practices are more visible in open source software
Analysis:
- Proven commercial software (think Microsoft) has just as many problems as proven open source software. However, it all depends on the solution – not all are created even.
Pro-open source myth #4: With open source you get a community.
Facts:
- There are many open source applications that do not support standards (e.g. Proprietary templating languages)
- There are many commercial applications that do support standards (e.g. Day Communications JCR)
The shred of truth:
- Open source can be less motivated towards lock-in or cross sell
Analysis:
- Particularly as it relates to content management systems, standards have yet to fully be defined and accepted by all.
It’s worth underscoring the fact that not all open source solutions are created equal and that hiring an outside consultant (see How to hire an intranet consultant) to implement a solution is strongly recommended for an intranet project. In fact, take a couple of days to prepare a good RFP and invite both open source and commercial vendors to submit proposals and then compare them line-by-line.
RELATED READING:
For more intranet news visit www.IntranetReport.com
Toby Ward is the CEO and founder of Prescient Digital Media. Download his Finding ROI Whitepaper or read his weekly columns and case studies at www.IntranetBlog.com. For a no-cost consultation on how Prescient can improve the ROI of your website or intranet, please contact us directly.
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