Spring Break
Freedom from the system
Open source software is a free and sometimes more efficient alternative to Microsoft.
By: Romy Misra
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Opinion
An open source product is transparent and great for users and both amateur and professional software developers. The latest web browser from Google has been released as open source software. Google acknowledges the help it got from Mozilla to build Google Chrome. The latest Google mobile platform is open source - if only Microsoft would learn.
Professor Srinivas Shakkotai, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, uses the operating system Linux and said he is appreciative of open source software.
"The drivers for adoption of any piece of software are usually price, usability, stability and security," Shakkotai said. "Open source software, by its very nature of peer-based creation and monitoring, has traditionally scored high on three of these aspects. While the economics of open source can be convoluted [e.g. IBM supports Linux since it helps it sell servers] the flexibility of applications that arise on open source platforms [e.g. mobile applications on Android] will drive its increasing use."
Open source software developers are aiming at creating better software products. The spirit of this community is commendable. If you are the programmer, you can learn from the software and improve it. If you are a consumer, you get to download it for free. You don't have to participate in the creation process to enjoy the fruits of open source software.
Professor Srinivas Shakkotai, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, uses the operating system Linux and said he is appreciative of open source software.
"The drivers for adoption of any piece of software are usually price, usability, stability and security," Shakkotai said. "Open source software, by its very nature of peer-based creation and monitoring, has traditionally scored high on three of these aspects. While the economics of open source can be convoluted [e.g. IBM supports Linux since it helps it sell servers] the flexibility of applications that arise on open source platforms [e.g. mobile applications on Android] will drive its increasing use."
Open source software developers are aiming at creating better software products. The spirit of this community is commendable. If you are the programmer, you can learn from the software and improve it. If you are a consumer, you get to download it for free. You don't have to participate in the creation process to enjoy the fruits of open source software.
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