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The Linux distillery Grokking open source
The Linux distillery Grokking open source | Grokking open source |
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| by David M Williams | |
| Thursday, 20 March 2008 | |
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Page 3 of 3 This is because open source software is transparent. The source code is visible to all. It can be inspected and analysed in depth, by anyone around the globe. You need not fear that the published source code differs from the compiled executable because you can recompile it yourself from source code. You can, under many free software licenses, modify the code and use it for yourself or redistribute it for the benefit of others.You could look at the numbers. Linux is the #1 server operating system providing domain hosting on the public Internet. The bulk of e-mail sent through the Internet originates through sendmail. PHP is the major server-side scripting language used online. Over 75% of all DNS domains are serviced by an open source application. Why is this so? It’s not because all these guys are making a fortune out of their work. It’s not because they’re being bankrolled by large companies. It’s not because they just wanted to copy something which had already been done and got lucky. The real reason for the success and proliferation of open source is because of the sheer overriding devotion to the cause among its developers and advocates and users alike. They believe in it. They share a goal of empowering computer users to have the freedom to use their systems as they like without any restriction on their liberty, without vendor lock in, without having a curtailed chance to review software they might consider purchasing. This liberty breeds passion for quality and passion for utility and the result is damn fine software which benefits you and benefits me. Another matter which causes furrowed brows is how you get any support for free software. Yet, conversely a hallmark of good open source projects is an incredible community of informal and freely available support which centres around e-mail lists, wikis, irc chat channels, open documentation and bug trackers. True, these may take a bit more digging to find than commercial level support – but they do offer support simply not available with proprietary software: you can interact directly with the people who created the software, and those who have experience with installing and maintaining it along with users who have likely encountered similar problems to yourself. Open source is part of these developers and advocates and it permeates their worldview and outlook. These people do it because they grok it. Do you?
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  written by Hamish, March 20, 2008
Great article, thanks David. I am writing a paper at the moment on Open Source usage in business and government, and will be quoting your article!
written by FrnchFrgg, March 21, 2008
I like your article, David, but I think it lacks a very important idea. Most of open source developers aren't open source developers only by devotion to a greater cause. They get far more benefit by sharing and leveraging the work of others than what they could hope to get if working alone. That's what keeps the system working, without any form of retribution, only saints would continue to sink a lot of their free time into open source projects. Sure, there is also a part of "for the greater good" motivation, but what helps that motivation remain live is the benefit we all get by working on an open source or free software project, be it by having a cool powerfull program to use, be it by being publicly thanked and aknowledged (what a warm feeling!), or any other kind of benefit (annoy Steve Ballmer, anyone ? ;-)...
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