Open source software

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

GROUP 2

Introduction Definition: the software source code and certain other rights

normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under an open-source license that’s permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software.

Origins: the free software movement (1983) Enhance freedoms of software users:

Run the software Study and change the software Redistribute copies with or without changes

Very common at the beginning of the computer era (1960’s), but disappeared in the 70s (because of competition, and difficulty of maintenance)

Worldwide OSS market: $1.6 billion in 2006, $5.8 billion in 2011 Thousands of projects today: mozilla firefox, open office,

android…

Functioning of an OSS Access to the source code… but what is a source code ?

Files before Compilation

Because after compilation (translation into

Binary code), we can’t access to that anymore.

Functioning of an OSS

With OSS:

If I want to change the software for my use, I can access to the files written by the developer (which is not the case if I only have the ‘.exe’ file, already in binary language, for example)

If I want to check if the software is well secured (and doesn’t sent my credit card numbers to the developer), I can. Or I also can trust the community of developers that did it before me, if the software is famous.

It is possible to create/use several declination of the same software, depending on the needs.

Functioning of an OSS

The values behind OSS :

It is free (free = no cost, and free of use/modification)

Ethic : access to “generic” softwares (you don’t have to pay 300€ to open a .docx file).

“copyleft” : respect of the work of the author

Allows creativity, collaboration, in constant improvement => innovation.

Security, transparence : you can know the recipe, you can’t be poisoned.

Respect the open standards (W3C, UTF-8…), in addition to the free licenses.

Supplier of OSS

Tough OSS is not a proprietary software, here is a list of some OSS project with the name of the founder company*

*Challenges of open innovation: the paradox of firm investment in open-source software J.West 1 G.Gallager

Access To The Technology

• A study released in August 2010 by Accenture revealed that 98% of companies use open source software and that 29% contributes back to the software.

• These figures are going to increase in the coming years

• In addition to advantages such as the low cost of using the software, transparency, and flexibility, to use open source software might have a positive effect on the image of a company as it carries values such as team spirit and collaboration

Companies using OSS Vrs Com-panies refusing to use it

Companies using open source softwaresCompanies not using open source softwares

Benefits from open source projects

Who are these “crazy people”?

Divers profiles : different know-how, interests and user needs.

o Individuals who have no interest in this matter

o People for whom computer is a hobby but insufficient !!

o “Hacker Culture”

2. Paradox of open-source software? J.West & S.Gallagher3. Economics of Open Source Software. L.Green

Open Source Softwares have changed profoundly the nature of software good which became a collective good.

Motivational problem2 :

o Direct utility, either to the individual or to the employer

o Intrinsic benefit from the work : personal fulfillment, prestige and visibility

o Signaling of quality of human capital : gain respect from one’s peer

o Self-production by “filling an unfilled market”3

Benefits from open source projects

Coordination problem : The governance structureo Open Source Projects posted on the Net, have some shared characteristics :Project lifecycle, network of the relations among its members, the linkages with the Open Source Community and the proprietary closed source software.

oA successful project starts when an individual have a particular problem. This person will group people who are facing the same problem in her social network.oAs the project goes by, the “embryonic” group will look for feedback making the results publicly available to attract more participation.

=> Always selecting the best fitting solutions. oThe authority of project leaders arises from the bottom up investiture resulting from the contribution.

Diffusion of OSSoThe diffusion process of OSS seems to permit an alternation of standards to the long-term dominance of inferior technologies.oOSS become more user-friendly => diffusion in increasingly broad-band of population.oThere are interaction effects between network topology, network density and interoperability costs, which strongly influence the diffusion dynamics of OSS.

Benefits from open source projects

Advantages

Free

•Ideal for people trying to start their own company, (costs savings).

Evolution /

integrate

external innovati

ons

•Unrestricted access anyone is able to use them, modify them and as a new technological advance is made, it is propagated. This will inevitably improve because of the collaboration.

Easy to manipul

ate

•You can go many upgrades and modifications by yourself if you know a bit of programming. You don’t need to hire professional programmers

Intrinsic benefit

•Learning skills for employees as participating in a software development + integration of external innovation

DrawbacksNo

Productio

n

•Not everyone has the same motivation to work on OSS

No Support

•When buying a product with a license, after sale support is provided.

Features

?

•Some features that are developed are not adequate for all types of businesses. Some others are needed and not developed.

Hybrid

Strategies

•Some firms developed hybrid strategies that combines the benefits of the OSS with some of the control of proprietary approaches. What about the others ??

B. Advantages and Drawbacks

Should FFTW use open source softwares?

Free use of IT resources (Open office…) => cost savings

Easy to procure – easy to integrate external innovation

Will enable FFTW to test some options before determining more precisely its needs (test before you buy)

Reliable technology as it has been improved by many users

OSS are very popular on server application: enables to share data among different departments

FFTW is building its IT department with limited resources and knowledge

Using OSS is relevant

Should FFTW invest in OSS?FFTW is a company that is building its IT department:

OSS is easy to change in order to fit better the business needs

Motivates IT people to work on a new, cutting edge software

But:

Regarding to flowers’ specific business, the community of developers is not large enough in order to make open source collaboration beneficial

No technical and functional support in IT development, which can be a handicap with a company without any IT knowledge

FFTW cannot afford to have weak or unstable IT regarding to its core business activities

FFTW is not an IT company: it won’t be able to make profit out of selling OSS-related products

It is not a good investment, for a young and small company that is not IT oriented, to spend a lot of money, time and people resources in OSS

Investing in OSS can be a cost rather than a benefit for FFTW