Open Source: It's Already Here Dave Cross Magnum Solutions Ltd [email_address] http://mag-sol.com/talks/bcs/

Dave Cross

Magnum Solutions Ltd

[email_address]

http://mag-sol.com/talks/bcs/

Some Facts Linux is a great desktop operating system Anything you can do in Windows, you can also do on Linux

Linux is a great desktop operating system

Anything you can do in Windows, you can also do on Linux

Some More Facts OpenOffice.org is as powerful as MS Office Mozilla is a better browser than IE Evolution does anything that Outlook does (and is less vulnerable to virus attack)

OpenOffice.org is as powerful as MS Office

Mozilla is a better browser than IE

Evolution does anything that Outlook does

(and is less vulnerable to virus attack)

Or Opinons There are many more “facts” like these But they are just personal opinions They only convince Open Source fans (like me) So let's try another approach

There are many more “facts” like these

But they are just personal opinions

They only convince Open Source fans

(like me)

So let's try another approach

Another Approach Who has used Linux? Who has used Linux today? Who has used any Open Source app today?

Who has used Linux?

Who has used Linux today?

Who has used any Open Source app today?

Another Approach Who has used PayPal today? Who has used Google today? Who has used Amazon today? These are all Open Source applications

Who has used PayPal today?

Who has used Google today?

Who has used Amazon today?

These are all Open Source applications

Open Source Business All of these companies run their business on Open Source software There are many more like them What software are they using? What advantages do they see?

All of these companies run their business on Open Source software

There are many more like them

What software are they using?

What advantages do they see?

Web Site Software An operating system (e.g. Windows) A Web Server (e.g. IIS) A Database (e.g. SQL Server) A Programming Language (e.g. .Net) What are the Open Source equivalents for these?

An operating system (e.g. Windows)

A Web Server (e.g. IIS)

A Database (e.g. SQL Server)

A Programming Language (e.g. .Net)

What are the Open Source equivalents for these?

LAMP An operating system (Linux) A Web Server (Apache) A Database (MySQL) A Programming Language (Perl, PHP and Python)

An operating system (Linux)

A Web Server (Apache)

A Database (MySQL)

A Programming Language (Perl, PHP and Python)

Linux Unix Clone Originally for x86 architecture Now runs on many platforms Well established as an alternative to Unix Long heritage – GNU Project Many distributions Commercial support

Unix Clone

Originally for x86 architecture

Now runs on many platforms

Well established as an alternative to Unix

Long heritage – GNU Project

Many distributions

Commercial support

Apache “ A patchy server” Modular architecture that makes it simple to add new features The web server that all others emulate Phenomenally successful

“ A patchy server”

Modular architecture that makes it simple to add new features

The web server that all others emulate

Phenomenally successful

Apache Runs the Web Source: Netcraft (http: // www.netcraft.com)

MySQL Small and fast database server Compromises RDBMS functionality for speed Alternatives SQLite (even smaller, even faster) PostgreSQL (slightly slower, fully featured) Most commercial DBs run on Linux One major exception

Small and fast database server

Compromises RDBMS functionality for speed

Alternatives

SQLite (even smaller, even faster)

PostgreSQL (slightly slower, fully featured)

Most commercial DBs run on Linux

One major exception

Programming Perl Long history of being used for the web Very high level language Very fast when used with Apache (mod_perl) PHP More like ASP Code embedded in HTML

Perl

Long history of being used for the web

Very high level language

Very fast when used with Apache (mod_perl)

PHP

More like ASP

Code embedded in HTML

Programming Python Similar to Perl More OO-based Other Alternatives Java (not Open Source) Mono (Open Source version of .Net)

Python

Similar to Perl

More OO-based

Other Alternatives

Java (not Open Source)

Mono (Open Source version of .Net)

Open Source Advantages Cost Security Support Quality Control

Cost

Security

Support

Quality

Control

Cost No license costs Still pay for support and training

No license costs

Still pay for support and training

Security Source code is available to everyone Security becomes very important “ Security by obscurity” is not an option Holes get fixed quickly

Source code is available to everyone

Security becomes very important

“ Security by obscurity” is not an option

Holes get fixed quickly

Support Most Open Source projects have very active support communities Most bugs get fixed within a day Fixes available immediately

Most Open Source projects have very active support communities

Most bugs get fixed within a day

Fixes available immediately

Quality Programmer pride Constant peer review Meritocracy

Programmer pride

Constant peer review

Meritocracy

Control You can see exactly what the program does You can change what the program does Documented interfaces and data formats Not tied to one company's view of the world

You can see exactly what the program does

You can change what the program does

Documented interfaces and data formats

Not tied to one company's view of the world

Conclusions Everyone uses Open Source software every day Some large businesses have already chosen to move to Open Source software Many of these businesses are very successful There are good business reasons for using Open Source software

Everyone uses Open Source software every day

Some large businesses have already chosen to move to Open Source software

Many of these businesses are very successful

There are good business reasons for using Open Source software

Questions