Issue date: 6/23/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Fred Lambuth [Click to enlarge]

On too many occasions I've found myself staring dumbfounded at my computer screen, wondering "what's going on in there?" Despite the steadily raising computer savvy in today's high tech populace, many software companies still believe it best to not burden our pretty little heads with what exactly they're doing on our machines. The Open Source paradigm seeks to do away with the black box mentality and replace it with a more transparent and open environment, providing each of us with the digital experience best suited to our demands.

As computers approach ubiquity, issues of software freedom, flexibility and security shift from the deep recesses of geeky interest into the forefront of digital issues. Recent social and business trends lean heavily on software or web based solutions making it more relevant than ever to maintain a transparent, flexible and robust digital landscape, especially for those that once considered themselves unaffected by the esoteric world of computer science.

In the simplest sense, the differences between Open Source software and other more closed options lie in the attitude towards the user. Open Source, as the name suggests, has no qualms with allowing us, the user, to see how the program was created and even encourages us to "improve it" should we be so inclined. The alternative, that we are all familiar with, provides us with a black-box product that we must either learn to love or be comfortable in loathing. Microsoft, with its flagship Windows Vista, proves to be an excellent example in how it pushes it's fairly underwhelming Vista onto consumers despite being unappealing. The message is tantamount to "get over it."

Enter Open Source. The Open Source landscape resembles a microcosm of the ecosystem. Software appealing to the user base flourishes and even evolves into a better product while those that underwhelm are left by the wayside. What you get out of the Open Source scene is a large variety of products that are able to suit the gamut of users, from e-socialites and music hermits to the more involved programmers and e-business moguls. For example, if all the available music software rubs you the wrong way, there's nothing stopping you from tailoring one to your vision.

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