This blog post has been in my head for quite a while and although it might be old news these days, I think there is still enough misinformation about Open Source Software to make it worthwhile.
Myth One – OpenSource adequates to software that runs on Linux. To shoot the first myth down - Open Source software is really about a licence agreement not about technology. It is simply software that has been made available with free access to the source code of the software, so that developers can modify and change it as they desire. Therefore, software written in any language from Cobol to C#, from C++ to Java that will run any operating system from a mainframe to a PC can be offered by the developer with an Open Source licence.
Yes LINUX is an example of Open Source software but that doesn't mean all software that runs on LINUX must be Open Source and doesn't preclude software that runs on an Operating System that isn't available with an Open Source licence, such as Microsoft Windows, from being provided as Open Source.
Myth Two - a project using Open Source software is always cheaper that running a project with non-Open Source software. Again, this is a case of putting technology before the requirements, which is never, ever a good idea. You first need to work out what the project is trying to achieve and then look at ways to achieve this goal. For example, in a web content management system project - the main costs are often not derived from the generic content management system itself (whether that is Open Source or not) but in customising it to do exactly what is required for the specific project and then populating the system with the content and managing it thereafter.
Myth Three – Only OpenSource software will give the flexibility required. I have heard a lot from organisations is that they choose a piece of Open Source software so that they would be free to change the application in the future if they wanted/needed to. This is fair enough if the organisation in question actually has the software development resource and expertise in-house to do this - often this is not the case. Not matter what, it is going to cost the organisation time and money to modify the application whether the application is Open Source or not and whether the modification is done in-house or not; and this is often overlooked.
Don't get me wrong, Open Source software can be great and could be the perfect fit for what your organisation requires and it might be the most cost effective solution for your project but my recommendation would be:
- Understand what Open Source means - it doesn't simply equate to free
- Define your requirements fully before looking at possible solutions (whether Open Source or not)
- Look at the total cost of the project, not just the software licence costs
- When making your selection - do take into account what resources you have in-house and what skills any technical staff have
