Why Use Open Source Software? Avoid Expensive Lock-In
We develop, customize, build, integrate and host web applications and web sites, and we do it almost exclusively on open source software.
Why open source?
There are several reasons, but here’s a big one:
Open source saves you money.
That’s you, the client. Open source saves you money.
(Open source doesn’t save us money. There is big money to be made in servicing proprietary software, but we hold to the quaint idea that we should maximize our value to our clients instead of our profits from our clients.)
Open source means no licensing costs. Or, in the odd case of commercial open source, low licensing costs. That’s money that can be dedicated to customization and deployment, or spent on other projects, or happily recorded as profit.
The cost savings of open source isn’t limited to the start of a project. Often the most significant savings are later on.
Microsoft might cut you a nice deal on licensing for product XYZ now, but when it’s time to upgrade or make changes, you have to either foot the bill or get out and waste your entire investment. This cycle repeats over and over and over again.
Custom Company ABC’s software may be a great fit for your needs, but their proprietary code means they have exclusive rights to any customization or support, and they can charge whatever they want for it. And should they ever go under… <shudder>
Open source software has zero lock-in. It belongs to a community of developers, which gives you thousands of options for present and future work on your software or website, and ensures you won’t get stuck on technology no one supports (at a price you can afford).
Recently, the Air Force admitted that video from its surveillance drones is being intercepted due to lack of encryption.
The problem?
The drones use proprietary technology created in the early 1990s, and adding encryption would be an expensive task.
The military isn’t known for making savvy purchasing decisions. To be fair, perhaps the Air Force had no choice but to use proprietary technology, and the current expensive lock-in couldn’t be helped.
But your business has choices, and unlike the government, you’re spending your money.
Avoid the long-term cost of lock-in of proprietary solutions with open source.
