Posts Tagged ‘Open Source Software’

Are you familiar with the Free Open Source Software? Have you tried using it in your system? Are you fond of upgrading latest version of various types of software?

The worldwide web offers a lot of freebies that anyone could use to develop other digital products for further use. One of these useful things online is the Free Open Source Software. The existence of a source code and other rights to the software allow the users to use it and modify it according to their needs within the system.

So, how does the free open source software emerge? Are these kinds of software really free and widely accessible to the general public? Why do they have different licensing terms and rights? These are just some of the features that may draw your interest with regard to the use of the open source software for all your digital needs.

The Free Open source Software exists as part of a software market campaign. This fantastically free software is known to be the open source of the latest software versions. Software’s latest version may give you all the latest features including cool colors and a more delightful interface. However, it could take up a lot of space in your PC. Using the newer versions of software over time makes you realize that the features here are almost the same as the older versions. You could even say to yourself that it still feels worthwhile to use its previous version without sacrificing a lot of space as stated in the system requirements.

There are also instances when you feel that you are really more comfortable and confident in using the older version than its latest version that you have recently downloaded. This is for the fact that there are additional features in it that are new to you that may cause resistance on your part or you just simply like the old version’s style.

On the other hand, you will be greatly attracted to the excellent user interface of the latest version of the software. For some users, this is a great plus factor as most software vendors will now require you to use the latest version for extracting or downloading newer software packages they are currently selling.

Vendors code this trendy software on sale to let prospective buyers know that they are expert enough in choosing and developing new software that are in demand and in current fad. They will even use the great user interface of the latest software version to encourage more sales. You may go for the latest version of it but do not be surprised if your system runs slower than usual. The latest version consumes a lot of page file memory that usually exceeds from RAM, leaving the whole system slower.

What is really important here is to consider the fact that you have to choose the software that exactly meets your needs. In this regard, you have to weigh both sides of the argument to justify your needs and preferences.

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Author: Maryrose Malinao
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Software development means, creating software to fulfill the specific needs of the customers. Depending upon their requirements, the software outsourcing firms develop customized software solutions. The client requirement can be an open source software or program for personal use.

Software development is an extension of computer programming. In programming, programmers design and write, test and troubleshoot, and maintain the source code of the computer programs. The source code is written in programming language. Software development extends beyond programming and it includes research and development, modification for re-use, re-engineering, maintenance and any other activity, which creates desired software product.

The software outsourcing firm can follow a structured, engineering based approach or an incremental approach depending upon the requirements of the project. However, most software development methodologies adopted by the software development firms, adopt an approach which is a mix of below mentioned stages:

• Understanding and analyzing the specific needs/problems of the customer.
• Devising a strategic plan or design for the software-based solution.
• Implementation (coding) of the software.
• Test running of the software.
• Deployment.
• Maintenance and bug fixing (quality check)

These all stages are combined together to create a software development life cycle or SDLC. Depending upon the specific needs of the clients the software outsourcing firm creates and delivers a specific software solution. This involves development of software at above mentioned stages, in different orders. The development process may devote more or less to any particular stage depending upon the requirements of the project.

The development software firm can adopt a “Waterfall” (structured) or an extreme approach. The extreme approach lays more emphasis on coding and development of automated tests and spends less time on planning and documentation. A more structured approach like the Waterfall methodology analyzes the risks and develops a detailed plan before the beginning of the coding phase of the software development cycle. This prevents design changes and re-coding in later stages of project.

Depending upon the complexity of the software requirements of the customers, software outsourcing company can select and follow the methodologies available to them. Waterfall approach is the best option when the developer understands the requirement completely and it is possible to plan a solution well ahead of time. If however, the project appears to be a complex one and is prone to risks then the best option is to adopt an extreme approach, like an incremental methodology. It is a step-by-step process and minimizes the risks associated with such project. It is advisable to adopt extreme approach when a software problem does allow enough space for proper planning and development of the project. The present day software outsourcing company has at its disposal, different methodologies to develop software solutions for its clients. Waterfall, Prototyping, Incremental, Spiral and Rapid Application Development (RAD) are some of the widely used methodologies by the modern day software outsourcing firm.

Mr. Jim John is the Sr. SEO Expert in Tatvasoft. TatvaSoft is a leading software development company in India. The company focuses on custom application development for all the clients cost effectively. TatvaSoft delivers superior solutions pertaining to software development using advanced technologies such Asp.Net, C#, VB.Net, PHP, Silverlight, Flex and many others. Clients get comprehensive software development services with a round the clock uninterrupted support.

Author: Jim John
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There is a marked change in the acceptance and use of open source software. Though it was conventionally used in the IT arena, technologies such as Linux etc. were used on servers out of sight of the ordinary user. It was not for the masses. But this trend is undergoing a sea change and small to large enterprises are beginning to use such software. There is no hard and fast rule that open source software should be propriety material for the technical. This variety of software is now the backbone of web experience and very few people are aware as to the extent to which they are either directly or indirectly coming into contact with it, on an average day. Mozilla Firefox has appropriated to itself some 20% of the worlds browser market and others are slowly gaining foothold.

Nowadays, one does not have to hire a webmaster to build your website for your business. An ordinary individual with a rudimentary knowledge of computers can key in, design and publish their own content by themselves. The webmaster is extinct. He just webbed away replaced by Content Management Systems like Drupal etc. Struck down by technology, replaced by scripts. The goal of software is to help everyone build his own website, any website at any time without having knowledge of any specialized skills.

Now this brings us to the question: “Do large enterprises require open source soft ware?” It is understandable that a small fledgling business needs open source soft ware because the owner of the business can build a small website in tune with his small business all by himself. It is cost effective for the businessperson. He doesn’t have to hire a web developer to do the project for him. And as the business grows, with the availability of a large number of modules, website can grow with the business either developed by the individual or with the help of a large community of developers waiting out there on the Internet.

But what about a large enterprise that has already grown. It might be surprising to know that a sizable number of large enterprises are already using open source software or intend to use it in the near future. The changes sweeping the global economy has had its effect on all business, small and large. Most have suffered, but a small minority has flourished and grown better. These are the ones who are willing to listen to fresh ideas. Ideas that drive efficiency or save money and software is helping them do it. Open source software which is free is making a large impact on all kinds of enterprises. Even the most conservative firms are opting for such software. Some 126 CEOs of some large enterprises in India were asked about their plans to use this kind of software. Fifty seven percent of them were already using it even before the economy meltdown.

What is the reason for the sudden popularity of open source software. Why move to it? Open source software is beginning to mature and is slowly but increasingly moving into enterprises. Open source technology is being adopted not only for internal projects but also for developing technology to give it back to the community.

Most of the users of open source swear by its cost effectiveness, ease of procurement, the absence of a single vendor lock-in and the ability to modify the code to suit their convenience. The other reasons include better performance, availability of skilled personal and ease of maintenance.

Of the above benefits, the one that most benefits large enterprises is cost effectiveness. In these of economic slowdown cost is a major consideration. Though open source software is not absolutely free, it is still relatively free when compared to other propriety software. You can download open source software from the Internet and then modify it to suit your needs. The availability of a large number of modules already developed is another advantage and this also comes free of cost.

The next best advantage is the absence of vendor lock-in. Vendor lock-in means that you have to depend on a particular vendor for software support. And shifting to a different application involves considerable cost. Here again cost effectiveness comes into the picture.

Yet another area in which large enterprises benefit from open source software is in the department of mass customization. Look everywhere and you see mass customization, from food, clothing, laptops and cars to name just a few. But this not the case with operating systems. Their source code is kept hidden and those IT companies which have the capability to modify them lose vendor support. With open source software, you can modify the operating system to suit the enterprises present and future needs. Take security for example. If the software could not be modified, then everyone has potential access to the information in the organization. Undoubtedly a hazardous situation.

Moreover, a survey showed that in the next five years the percentage of software purchase in open source is likely to be around 79% and that 80% of those surveyed felt that expenditure on open source software will be > 25% and 25% of them felt it would be around 50%.

Inspite of the fact that open source software is moving into the realms of large enterprises, there still exist some barriers to its use and unfamiliarity is the main reason. Many large enterprises have got used to the traditional computing techniques that migrating to an unfamiliar one seems a daunting task. The next reason is the lack of internal technical skills. Legal concerns about licensing is yet another reason.

But what ever be the enterprise, small or large, the fact the open source is making inroads into these organizations is a fact and even Microsoft, which once vehemently opposed the use of open source software is now into it with the acquisition of Powerset. And if you want to get some of your content managed properly, Powerfulcms is the best place to go.

Oliver S. Daniel is a Freelance Writer of a variety of articles and can be reached at jayasingh.daniel@yahoo.co.in. His website is [http://www.oddjams.com/] and he blogs at http://www.oliverdaniels.blogspot.com/

Author: Oliver S. Daniel
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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When it comes to spyware, one of the biggest culprits is free software. Many authors of free software will bundle spyware or adware with the software they are offering for free. The reason they do this is because they are paid a commission whenever a user installs the spyware or adware. This allows them to still make money even though they are offering you their software for free.

Oftentimes, it is not even evident that spyware or adware is also being installed alongside the free software. The author will usually hide the fact deep in the end-user license agreement that nearly nobody reads. This allows the author to claim that the additional install was agreed upon.

The best way to prevent this type of intrusion is to stay away from free software altogether. Since this is not desirable to most people, there are a couple of exceptions to this rule that are usually safe alternatives. One is open source software. The open source community of developers has a very clear motive for developing free software: they believe software should be free – free from cost and free from spyware or adware. The second safe alternative is demo versions of software. Demo versions are free but are also limited in their functionality. The developers of demo version software hope that users will like their software enough to purchase a fully functional version of the software.

Another point needs to be made regarding free programs. Many people use file-sharing software, such as Limewire, to download “free” versions of software that was designed to be purchased. This is not only illegal it is also very dangerous. Oftentimes, spyware, adware, Trojans, or viruses are shared on these networks and are disguised as legitimate software. Since it is expected that software would come as a executable or zip file, it is very easy to confuse someone by using a fake file name. These types of downloads should be avoided altogether.

The temptation of installing useful software that costs nothing can be quite high at times. Unfortunately, this so-called free software usually has a price to be paid. That price can be in the form of intrusive and computer-crippling spyware or adware. Simply practicing caution when choosing free software and understanding the developers motives can help prevent installing unwanted extras with that software.

Read more on Best Virus Protection

Author: William Clayton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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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.

Sophia P. is the editor of http://www.about-elearning.com/authoring-software.html and http://www.colleges-and-careers.com/computer-degrees.html, information and resource guides for e-learning and degree programs.

Author: Sophia Peters
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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What is Open Source Software?

Open Source Software (OSS) is software that is available under a special license that allows everyone to access the program code as well as the executable program. This means that anyone is able to edit the program code and therefore customise the software for their own needs.

This ability to access the source code is protected by the license under which the software is released. There is a great many Open Source licenses, but they all have one thing in common, they protect the right of the user of the software to access and modify it in any way they desire.

This ability to modify applications is in direct contrast to the Closed Source Software model. In Closed Source only the creator of the application has access to the source code, and therefore, only the creator is able to modify the application.

Being able to change the way an Open Source Software application operates is critical in many business environments. No two businesses are identical and therefore it is unlikely that any one piece of software will satisfy the needs of all potential users. Without the ability to modify their software a company is restricted in its operations by that software.

While it is true that no two businesses are identical, it is also true that there are a great many common business practices that are repeated across organisations. These common practices can be well served by “standard” software. The remaining practices, those that are different from competitors are, typically, the ones that give a business an advantage in the marketplace.

Since these non-standard practices are key to the organisations success it is critical that any software solutions adopted by the company also support these non-standard processes. It is in this need to adapt software to a companies specific needs that makes Open Source Software attractive. Since the company has access to the source, the application can be freely adapted to suit the unique requirements of each user.

Who Pays for Open Source Development?

The ability to customise software is critical to allow an organisation to continue to improve their business processes, but how does a company afford to pay for such customisations?

One of the side effects of allowing any user access to the source code is that the cost of acquiring the software in the first instance is massively reduced. In most cases the source code is available for no cost. This enables the user to divert resources normally allocated to pay software license fees into enhancing the software.

A successful Open Source Software project has a large community of software developers. Many of these developers work as independent contractors and can be employed to customise the software, alternatively, if a company has internal developer resources, they can leverage those skills to perform the customisations.

Does it Really Work?

This all sounds fantastic, but does it really work? Are there Open Source Applications in use in the real world?

Here are a few facts to convince you that it most certainly does work:

- Around 70% of web sites are served by the Open Source Apache HTTPD server.

- In a 2002 survey it was found over 31% of UK and nearly 42% of German companies were using or planning to use OSS.

- In 2001, Debian (an Open Source Operating System), contained over 55 million lines of code and was estimated to have consumed over 14,000 person years in development time. That is a development cost of around 1.89 Billion Dollars (US) yet it is still available with no license fees.

Scott Morris manages the site on satellite code.

Author: Scott Morris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The term “TCO” (total cost of ownership) is common and especially misleading for most proprietary or closed-source software users. Users of closed-source software often don’t own the software, they are fundamentally renting or leasing the software. Unless the business arranges to have a software program’s copyright transferred, the business does not actually own the software – the business only owns a license to run the software in certain limited ways. That’s an important distinction; in particular, with proprietary software the business typically does not have the rights associated with ownership.

When businesses pay to own a physical product (say a building or computer hardware), you typically have nearly unlimited rights to modify and resell the product purchased (subject to legal limits that prevent harm to others like zoning laws and limits on electromagnetic emissions). Furthermore, with nearly all proprietary software, companies, and individuals, do not have the right to modify the software to suit functional needs. Proprietary licenses typically forbid reverse engineering the product to understand what the software does, forbids publishing benchmarks and reviews without approval by the vendor. And the manufacturer of the software usually forbids (sub)leasing, reselling, or redistributing the product. These kinds of limits make proprietary software users more like a renter of a building, who can occupy a space but cannot modify or sublease the space. Some proprietary software programs are sold for use only over a period of time, and thus the analogy to renting is especially easy to see. Many proprietary software programs being sold with a one-time cost giving the user a “perpetual” license. These applications also impose recurring fees, known as upgrade costs to continue to use the programs on newer hardware and operating systems.

Proprietary vendors make money from the sale of licenses, and are imposing increasingly complex mechanisms on consumers to manage these licenses. “Customers who cannot later prove they paid for every installed copy of proprietary software (e.g., due to copying by an employee or losing the license paperwork) risk stiff penalties (Wheeler, 2007).” In short: by using proprietary software, the business, or individual, runs the risk of having the vendor sue. To counter these risks, organizations must keep careful track of license purchases. This means that organizations must impose strict software license tracking processes, purchase costly tracking programs, or pay for people to keep track of these licenses and perform occasional audits.

In contrast, there’s no license management or litigation risk in simply using open-source software. Open-source software users have no fear of litigation from the use and copying of open-source software. Licensing issues do occur when open-source software is modified and then redistributed. In this circumstance, redistributing modified open-source software generally requires following only a few simple rules (depending on the license), such as giving credit to previous developers and releasing modifications under the same license as the original program. Additionally, most small businesses will not be modifying code unless the code is being re-used in a product.

The open-source principle is what sets the open source model apart from the existing competition. Rather than paying for a year’s worth of support up front when purchasing the software, using open source, the business can use the software first and pay for the cost of supporting and maintaining the software later after you understand what is involved. As long as the business is kept running as close to 99.999% as possible, the users should be satisfied with the solutions.

To see the alternatives to closed source visit out website @ http://www.oss4win.com.

Mike Millslagel
Security System Consultant
B.S. Information Systems, MBA, MCSE, CNE, CCNP Security Specialist
http://www.oss4win.com

Author: Mike Millslagel
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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To face the competition, which is present in the manufacturing industry, it is important to upgrade to the advanced software available. There are software developers who produce and provide specific software solutions, to manufacturing facilities at a cost. Open source software for general free use, is also easily available on the Internet.

Production software that can help plan all the resources and manage the business is easily available from software solution developers. To remain competitive, it is essential to aquire the latest manufacturing machinary. The latest machinary would naturally require modifications to any manufacturing software previously used in the facility. Therefore it may become necessary to approach a software solutions provider to update the software.

Machining operations usually comprise of three stages, namely, roughing, semi-finishing, and finishing. The typical CAM software provides the machine controllers the necessary instructions for performing these three stages. The output from the CAM software is usually a simple text file of G-Code, which can be many megabytes long, depending on the complexity of the task. The text file is then transferred to a machine using a Direct Numerical Control (DNC) software program.

Some software solution developers can offer advanced software programs, sometimes called as Manufacturing Execution Systems or MES. These software programs encompass concepts such as real-time machine monitoring, graphics, tool management, and production scheduling. Advanced DNC systems give machine operators an integrated view of all the necessary information, textual and graphical, which they require in order to carry out a manufacturing operation. It also gives the management, timely information regarding the progress at each stage. Advanced software programs allow the systems to be directly integrated, with corporate CAD/CAM and process planning systems.

Many other software solutions are available for manufacturing facilities. Software programs that help monitor and control functions, such as financial accounting, costing, planning and scheduling, inventory control, and order and delivery control can be bought directly from software solution providers via the Internet.

Manufacturing Software provides detailed information on Manufacturing Software, Manufacturing Inventory Software, Manufacturing Business Software, Manufacturing Management Software and more. Manufacturing Software is affiliated with Free CAD Software.

Author: Eric Morris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Maintenance management software is a very useful tool as it helps manage several different departments or branches of a company with ease. A number of retailers sell maintenance management software to different companies. Many of these retailers sell both PC and web based maintenance management software.

The PC based maintenance management software is very useful and makes excellent use of the various features inbuilt in Microsoft windows. However, many companies are interested in web based maintenance management software because it helps an organization to manage its resources from anywhere in the world, by logging onto the Internet. Many retailers sell different kinds of maintenance management software, such as fleet maintenance management software, enterprise maintenance management software, product maintenance management software, asset maintenance management software and production maintenance management software. They sell maintenance management software with and without source code, and some even sell open source software.

Retailers of maintenance management software typically advertise their products in newspapers and on the Internet. Some also offer free software download on the Internet. The software can be used for a few days or weeks on a trial basis to ascertain if it meets the specific needs of a user. Most online retailers accept payment via major credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. Those retailers who deliver software to companies outside the US charge an additional postal fee for packaging and shipping.

Retailers buy maintenance management software from the software companies at wholesale prices and therefore incur costs for advertising, storage, marketing, installation and maintenance expenses. As some retailers are directly associated with the software producing company, their overhead expenses are lesser and they pass on the pricing benefit to the end users.

There are special terms and conditions that need to be met for individuals or companies to become retailers, the main one being that they need to have a sales permit. Retailers of maintenance management software have to be knowledgeable about other competing software products available in the market to be able to sell their products effectively. In order to win the confidence of potential buyers, they must also offer installation and maintenance services. It is essential for them to have a good understanding of demand and supply in the market and alter the service costs accordingly. It is critical for retailers to project the right image because most manufacturers and customers are bound to check their reputation before deciding to deal with them.

Maintenance Management Software [http://www.e-maintenancemanagementsoftware.com] provides detailed information on Equipment Maintenance Management Software, Facility Maintenance Management Software, Fleet Maintenance Management Software, Foundation Maintenance Management Software and more. Maintenance Management Software is affiliated with Fleet Maintenance Software.

Author: Eddie Tobey
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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