Free Open Source Software For Business Startups

By Roger Webb

Open Source

Open Source software is software offered free over the internet. It often mimics well known brand names, Adobe Photoshop for instance, but is perfectly legitimate in that the code is generated by a bunch of enthusiasts keen to show how good they are - and they really are good - and to do down the big software companies who would otherwise be able to charge what they like for their products. The software usually is sophisticated and reliable; able to do most, if not all, that the prototype can do and do it for nothing. In my suite of sites for the over-50s I use six such programmes.

1. Drupal - which provides a complete structure for an on-line community
2. GIMP - which replicates Adobe Photoshop
3. Filezilla - which allows me to upload material to the site
4. Firefox - which replicates Internet Explorer.
5. Gallery2 - Picture Galleries
6. Phpfreechat - Chat Room software

The Moral issues

Though the Open Sourcers create their own code, there is no doubt that in shadowing commercial software they pirate the concepts and often the look and layout of the prototype. On the other hand, some have outgrown their prototype. In many ways Firefox is a better web-browser than its prototypes. Further, it is clear that the software giants have held users to ransom whenever they have had a monopoly .

Operations Though Open Source is free to download, it is not free to use.

• Documentation Open Sourcers are wonderful programmers but almost always very poor producers of user guides. Often user manuals have to be bought through Amazon or similar though the cost of the documentation is far less than the cost of commercial software. The documentation they do produce often assumes knowledge of computereze way above the average newbe user.
• Modules and Themes Commercial software is usually very complex and developed. Few Open Sourcers have the resources to replicate the complete suite, but write the core and allow others to write modules that add functionality to the core. For instance, in Drupal there are modules to allow the user to add forms, set up shops, and themes that change the look of your site. Thats all well and good, and splits an enormous project into a number of much smaller ones, linked together seamlessly via common disciplines, but the modules are of variable quality, and often interactive so that a function - such as being able to add a form or improve SEO performance - may use several modules and will be as good as the poorest of them.
• Testing and Updates When a major software house builds a new suite, they have the resources to set up dummy data bases and undertake extensive testing replicating all sorts of coincidences - someone wanting to do two things at the same time that clash with each other - and loading the software with dozens of users all using it to its limits. In that way they can predict all the likely failures though we all know that even Microsoft are forever sending us updates when new faults are located and eliminated. The Open Sourcers do not have these facilities, and software is issued with minimal testing. Also every change to the core will likely require modification of the modules and the modules are produced by other volunteers under no commercial disciplines. The result is endless updates, all of which have to be downloads and integration into the core. Sometimes, if the module builder either doesnt like the new core, or relies on other modules and updates of modules frequently lag behind the updates of the core. I have one part of my site 5 updates behind the others because it relies on modules that have yet to be updated to match .

Using Open Source

Notwithstanding all of this, Open Source offers huge advantages to the small businessman or someone setting up a micro-business though there is always a risk in downloading software. The sites above have given me no problems and you can use www.sourceforge.net with reasonable comfort to find and source the software you need.

Permission is granted to republish this article strictly in compliance with the EzineArticles terms of service.

This article is part of a series written to help older people - people aged over 50 - to stay in productive employment for as long as they wish. This particular item appears in the section encouraging them to set up in business and become self employed rather than seek employment in the normal job market.

See the original in the forums of http://www.lifes3rdphase.com

A courtesy copy should be forwarded on publication to roger.webb@retiredbutactive.com

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