Cost Effective Web Sites - Open Source Business Solutions

Many computer users regard open source software as freeware but this is not the case. Open Source Software is by definition software for which the source code is freely available for others to use and modify. Freeware is essentially packaged software which the author has decided to licence without charging the users.  Open Source Software is gaining more adherents each year as the quality of the products being offered approach or even exceed commercial equivalents. If you are thinking of a project and your budget is limited then consider using an OSS product for your business solution.

If you are not involved in the software industry then many of the terms that are bandied about can be confusing. Software is written in text format (this is called the source code) to a very tightly defined syntax that is defined by the programming language. There are many programming languages (also called scripting languages for a particular subset) and each one has its adherents and detractors. Some work better with hardware and some are better in presenting information to human beings. Many of the more popular OSS applications are written in PHP that is available on nearly every web host. Perl is also a popular language but is now losing ground to a new kid on the block called Python.

Software has to be converted into another format for computers to use and execute the code. This is called the object code. This is done either by compiling all the lines of source code in one go and creating a 'run unit' or 'executable' file or by interpreting each line of source code one after the other for the computer or server to execute.

Most OSS software is distributed using the GNU General Public Licence (GPL) that allows a user to run the provided programme, modify it and redistribute it. The licence does require you to make your modified source code available to other users.

The main thing that a user of open source software has to do is carry out some basic research on the product:

• When was the last update made?
• How quickly are updates and releases coming online?
• Is there a large user base?
• Can you customise it without delving into the undelying code?
• Is there a vibrant community involved in developing the produc?
• Are commercial vendors offering the product as a viable solution to a business need?
• Are there add-ons and other components available?

This is not an exhaustive list but it should be enough to make you spend a few hours checking out the product. Alternatively contact KPR i-Services Ltd for advice and guidance.