Posts Tagged ‘open source applications’

I’m already proficient in Java, and I know some C++ so I’m not new to programming in general. I want to learn something new though aside from commonly used languages, and I heard that Delphi is great for native Windows application development. Is this true for those who have used it? I’ve seen open source applications that are written in Delphi, but I’ve never used it myself how does it compare to other programming languages?

I’m already proficient in Java, and I know some C++ so I’m not new to programming in general. I want to learn something new though aside from commonly used languages, and I heard that Delphi is great for native Windows application development. Is this true for those who have used it? I’ve seen open source applications that are written in Delphi, but I’ve never used it myself how does it compare to other programming languages?

Is open source the right option for your online training, teaching, or learning efforts? This articles compares the difference between open source and proprietary software. Open source software has become mainstream. Applications such as the Firefox Web browser and Linux operating system are available to aid in all areas of operation, including teaching and learning. Open source software has become a strong contender in online training and e-learning sectors. As technology continues to evolve, more open source offerings will continue to emerge in the area of e-learning, continuously changing the landscape of online teaching and learning both in academia and business fields.

Open source software has grown to include:

1. Learning management systems (LMS)
2. Learning content management systems (LCMS)
3. Course authoring tools
4. Tools to create media elements such as animations, audio, and video
5. Browsers and players to present content
6. Courseware libraries

These resources has some important benefits:

1. Open source software is free to download therefore lower in cost.
2. Flexibility and customizability
3. Extensive active builder and user communities that forms a good technical support base.
4. Many open source applications run on multiple platforms including Windows and Linux.
5. Adherence to established standards, which is a high priority for open source software development.
6. Ability to use and link to other open source software

Most proprietary software comes without the source code, which is the code originally written by the programmer. Without this code you do not have right to change the way the software is developed. When you buy proprietary software you are essentially buying the right to use the software in a specific way, and in many cases the company that developed it owns the software, and you just purchase rights to use it.

The main difference between commercial support for proprietary software and commercial support for open source software is that the proprietary software is obligatory and the open source software is optional. If you opt out of paying for support for proprietary software, you lose the right to use it in most cases. The costs incidentally tend to be quite high for proprietary software.

Perceived advantages of proprietary software include:

1) Reliable, professional support and training available;
2) Packaged, comprehensive, modular formats; and
3) Regularly and easily updated.

The downside however is that it is:

1) Costly, and
2) has closed standards that hinder further development.

Open sources software has the advantage of:

1) Low cost and no license fees;
2) Open standards that facilitate integration with other systems; and
3) it is easily customizable.

The down side is:

1) Lack of professional support;
2) Evolving developer communities;
3) Lack of release co-ordination; and
4) Erratic updates. However, with such a large development and user-base, many discussion forums and help sites are available for users.

So what is the right solution for you and your organization? Generally, for smaller organizations and projects, Open source solutions seem to suffice. The difference in cost more than makes up for the perceived disadvantages mentioned above. Larger organizations seem to require more robust, high-quality product with high levels of service and support. They want responsibility, reliable assistance, and support from their suppliers.

With rapid developments in technology, chances are you can find tools to meet your training needs in either the open source or commercial sector. But open source provides unique advantages which include filling the low-cost high-control niche that are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve through commercial, proprietary avenues.

Author: Sophia Peters
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Beading Necklace

One of the most common misconceptions about open source software (OSS) is that the market lacks sustainability. The argument goes something like this: a team of OSS developers who ‘sell’ their product to users for little or no cost will eventually fall apart as they see their peers becoming financially successful by adopting a more commercial approach. Proponents of this view argue that inevitable economic market forces essentially negate the sustainability of the open source market.

Fortunately for open source enthusiasts, both logical argument and historical evidence contradict the “lack-of-sustainability” theory.

The Test of Time

Many people hold the notion that open source projects will generally fade away when confronted with large commercial opponents. However, while market pressures can and do play a role in the OSS community (see next section), history shows us that OSS projects are surprisingly durable and resilient – perhaps more so than their proprietary counterparts.

For example, while the fate of commercial software is almost inextricably tied to the fate of its parent development company, open-source applications have a life of their own. When a commercial product’s company goes defunct or is “bought out,” the product is also likely to be scrapped or shredded into pieces for use in other applications. OSS, on the other hand, is not bound to any particular person or entity, though it is typically supported by a core group of programmers and innovators. If the original developers give up on a project, it is perfectly possible for users to jump in and fill the gap.

Some of the world’s most influential and important pieces of software are based on open source products. Software like the increasingly popular operating system Linux and the BIND system which is at the very core of the internet’s functionality are all examples of how important OSS can be.

Profitability and Open Source Software

There is no inherent contradiction between profitability and low-cost or free OSS. Though the connection between open source software and profit is more indirect than, say, selling software as a product, a strong connection nonetheless exists.

For example, many companies have found it to be in their business interests to support open-source initiatives. A company whose industry is well served by a particular OSS application could gain a competitive advantage by funding and participating in the development process. Participation in such projects is also often a worthwhile publicity campaign for those involved – leading, though indirectly, to increased profit.

The barrier is creativity. As the open source market evolves and expands, it changes the rules of the existing market. Those who can learn these rules and adapt to them the fastest are the ones who will benefit the most.

Author: Joseph Devine
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Benefits of electric pressure cooker

The rising popularity of the open source OS market, spearheaded by a number of highly popular open source applications, heralds not only a change in how software and information are viewed, exchanged, and developed, but also a shift in the very economics of the software industry. While some see the growth of the OS community as a threat to traditional software commerce and business models, in reality, the nature of open source software necessitates a different – though equally viable (and in some ways superior) – approach to the nuts and bolts of selling, distributing, and maintaining software.

The Premise of Closed Source (CS) Software

The core justification of closed source software (that is, software whose source code is hidden and whose uses are limited by copyright law) is economic. When software developers came up with a new product, they faced a dilemma. On one hand, as entrepreneurs, they had a need to sell their products and receive financial compensation for their work. On the other, the very nature of software makes it a very easily duplicated; a single copy of the application or program could be used to make hundreds or thousands more. Without product scarcity to create market demand, how could one sell software at any sort of respectable price?

The answer was closed source software. By hiding the vital innards of their applications from the public, and barring tampering through copyright protections, software developers were able to impose a type of artificial scarcity on the market, and were thus able to create demand for their products.

Open source software, on the other hand, cannot rely on such an economic strategy. Instead of driving or being driven by market forces, OS software developers are dependent on the popularity and quality appeal of their products. Though this does not necessarily guarantee quality, advocates say that the push for perfection (which is arguably much stronger in the absence of artificial demand) is a strong tenet of OS developers.

Open Source and Closed Source in a Growing Consumer Base

As consumer bases grow, both open source and closed source software encounter new challenges to their existence and maintenance. One such issue is security. Advocates of CS software say that, by hiding source code, they deter hackers and crackers from discovering and exploiting flaws in their applications. Open source advocates respond that, while hackers do have more access to OS software code, the openness of their products means that support and security patches are handled and produced by enormous consumer bases – resources unavailable to CS developers.

Author: Joseph Devine
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: How Electric Pressure Cookers Work