Linux is the flagship of the Open Source Software (OSS) movement.
This movement is a set of rules and standards for software development
and distribution.
Open source software is licensed under the terms of the GNU
General Public License. This license is the product of the
Free Software Foundation.
The full-text of
the license can be found here.
Linux and other open-source programs are either free or very
low cost when compared to the prices of commercial software products.
The free part does not mean however that everything you want
is 100% free. What it does mean is that most things open-source
are very inexpensive if not free.
"Boxed" versions of Linux come with CDs, documentation
and some free support. The nice thing is that most distributions
contain lots of other open-source programs that you would have
to pay more for with commercial products.
Commercial software manufacturers charge for everything they
can including server and client licenses. Open-source is "paid
for" by volunteer developers worldwide.
Some interesting open-source facts:
- Open-source powers 70% of webservers
- Open source powers most email servers
- Open source databases are powerful
- Many other examples exist.
Don't let the volunteer developer part dissuade you. Much of
the open-source products work better than pay-for products.
For instance, it is not uncommon for a correctly configured Linux
server to run continuously without even needing a reboot, for
months if not years!
Performance is another open-source benefit. For example, a crusty
old Pentium 166Mhz system with 64Mb of RAM and a 6Gb hard drive,
running Qmail is capable of processing a couple hundred thousand
emails per day.
When comparing Linux to Windows, realize that Linux was built
from the bottom up as a network operating system. Windows
is based on DOS which was never intended to support a network.
Linux works best on servers. Most people agree that it is not
ready for the average desktop user, mostly because of a lack of
applications for functions like accounting, graphics design and
other specialized applications
Linux has been around for over 10 years. It is now gaining traction
in the marketplace as commercial software manufacturers charge
more and more for their proprietary products.
If nothing else, open-source is worth a look.
Click here to see the largest
resource of open-source projects in the world.
ABC will help you take advantage of open-source:
- Free software leave budget for expert help
- We know what works and what doesn't
- You won't hose your system learning it
- We can get you running quickly
- The reliability is excellent
Ready to discuss the cost, reliability, flexibility and performance
benefits of open-source?
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