Open-source software (OSS), with its available code and free price tag, has a multitude of myths surrounding its efficiency and quality. Common myths include that it is bad for the economy, OSS products are second rate, and the quality cannot be good because it is free.

The first main myth that OSS is bad for the economy and against capitalist principles could not be further from the truth. Proprietary software advocates claim that open-source material takes away large corporations’ profits. Although this might be true on a small scale, the entire market is not composed of software giants like Microsoft. In addition, Microsoft’s lost revenue comes from users using their products illegally without licenses Without OSS, the social networking surge online would not have occurred so rapidly. Companies can be built from the ground up with less initial start-up money, leading to diversification and a host of new businesses. Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and Joomla have created OSS tools that are changing and improving the way people communicate. With improved communication capabilities, enhanced collaboration occurs on a global scale, which is beneficial for the worldwide economy.

Another myth about open-source involves questioning its quality. Many of the highest traffic websites like Facebook, Yahoo, YouTube, Wikipedia, and MySpace all use open-source software such as Linux and Apache to run their programs. Major companies that use open-source include Amazon, Disney, and Boeing. Major computer and software businesses such as IBM and HP have also adopted an open-source strategy. Even Microsoft is paying attention to open-source possibilities, although it is generally reacting to OSS as a threat rather than a possible avenue for expansion. Microsoft considers some OSS programs, such as Linux, to threaten and violate a number of its patents, which it has been pursuing in costly litigation. If an enormous developer considers free software to be a threat, the quality of OSS is obviously a force to be respected.

Although some open-source programs lack quality and prove to be ineffective at providing solutions, the same situation exists for proprietary, commercial material. Superior programs exist in both proprietary and OSS domains, but with open-source, the code is readily available, changeable, and customizable. Quality is not limited by model number or delayed by technical support; instead, the only limit on usefulness of open-source products is the developer’s ability.

Author: Joseph Devine
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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