Open Source VS Commercial Software

This is the first note in a series of pieces on open source, open standard, hybrid and commercial software solutions.

Open Source Software (OSS) wins votes from many IT professionals -- but is it really the solution for all of your company's needs? IT professionals often favor direct access to a program's source code (IT folks love to play) but executives who are tasked with delivering business results often strongly prefer commercial solutions, citing a host of benefits including ease of adoption by company staff as well as the quality of support provided by the software provider. With commercial software, the vendor is strongly motivated to make sure that its products are well maintained, upgraded, trustworthy, compatible and the result of a viable, holistic vision.

A host of issues such as lack of central accountability, interoperability with different systems, product support as well as adherence to industry standards should be considered before a company decides on OSS as a cost savings strategy. The wrong choice may result in complicating your operations in the future. As Nick McGrath says in the National Computing Center, "computing environments [are] becoming more and more advanced, the need for different software and hardware to work in harmony is greater than ever."

To be fair, we would note that Nick's perspective is a bit pro-commercial and pro-Microsoft. However, his points stand. Total cost of ownership involves far more than an upfront license fee. As one physicist we know recently said, "Open Source is free as long as your time is free."

The reality is that the subject is contentious and difficult to resolve.

NetDimensions is somewhat agnostic as to open source, hybrid or commercial solutions. We sell commercial solutions, but like them all. The most important questions to ask are:

1. Does it work?
2. Is it interoperable, i.e., does it play well with other software programs? and,
3. Can it be procured and supported at a cost that makes sense for you?

We will be looking at all of these issues in future editions of Wired.

April 15-17, 2008
HRD 2008
London, U.K.
Booth 408