Open BSS - Open Source Unix at Open Source Unix

Technorati Tags: best open source software, open source software, open source software development

Technorati Tags: best open source software, open source software, open source software development

For one thing, me… I like to listen to Dylan bootlegs while working on projects.  Why you ask?  It’s because of the state of mind his music and his live concerts put me in. 

The structure and rhythms of the songs mixed with the unpredictability of his performances is both calming and exciting.  Rather than getting lulled by the constant sameness of the official releases, the edge of the live recordings keeps the listener engaged.

An active mind is a creative mind.  An active mind is an aware mind.  Both traits are needed for effective coding.

Bob Dylan may not do the same for you.  You might use other back ground music or prefer silence.  However, the next time I sit down to work, Bob will be in the background keeping me on the edge.

Technorati Tags: open bss

Free and open source software has become the newest craze in business and IT world. The second question ‘is it good for my business’ now takes a secondary position. Both business owners and managers agree to the use of free and open source software.

The real buzz about open source is not hyped by any corporation or company. It is a group of self motivated IT professionals from across America and Europe are behind this newfound attraction of open source software.

The main advantage of open source software is that the users have full control over the source code of any program delivered under open source license. Now people become more and more sensitized about the advantages of having access to the root of a program.

http://www.jbilling.com.

The main advantages that come with access to source code are Flexibility or adaptability, control, lowest possible costs, long term usage and upgrading without additional costs. The business house has to pay for coders and developers though.

Anyone is free to make any changes to software suites or programs released under Open Source License. Anyone can add, edit and make modifications to make the program work in any imaginable manner. The modifier is also allowed to resell the software.

Only restriction on such an open source license is that you have to provide access to the source code that you have modified or added. It is however not necessary to release source code of the modifications made to the original program if it is not distributed or sold. The developer company is free to use it for their own in house purposes. Whenever they sell it in the market, they have to license it under Open Source agreement.

Open source software projects, in most cases attract the fancy of skilled developers from around the world. They actively participate in collaborative development, fixing bugs and adding useful features. The end result will be a completely different software, may be many times useful than the original one.

jbilling Free Open Source Billing Software (http://www.jbilling.com/) remained the most active projects from among 137,389 open source software projects (as on Dec. 1, 2006) at SorceForge.net for quite a long time. SourceForge.net offers a collaborative environment for software developers develop open source software and is a source code repository which presently hosts many thousands of Open Source projects.

Open Source Billing Software project by jBilling has really picked up momentum and the present version 1.0.4 is available for free download at their website.

Sam Jose
http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/long-run-of-open-source-software-in-business-world-86988.html

Most people would think a question asking about creating software and potty training puppies would be the first line of a bad joke. Not so in this case. Three years ago, my cousin got a new puppy and it was having accidents in the house all of the time. He’d take the dog out and nothing. But, as soon as they’d get in the door, an accident.

He was writing code one day and it dawned on him. The dog needed a structure or a schedule so it could be programmed to do it’s business in the right place at the right time.

Now, the dog is as regular as clockwork. My friend’s girlfriend says the dog just outgrew the problem. However, my friend is convinced it was the way he ‘programmed’ the dog. You know what, I think so too.

Technorati Tags: best open source software, open source software, open source software development

Open Source Software and its Relation to osCommerce

E-commerce sites such as osCommerce function through the use and continued success of open source software – in fact, open source software is what makes these sites free. So what exactly is open source software? The purpose of article is to help you better understand what open source software is.

Basically, open source is based on the idea that when people have access to a software’s source code they can change, improve and evolve a piece of software at astonishing speeds – a characteristic that ends up produces really great software that meets the needs of its users.

Open source software is not just free code for website and software. Open source software is “governed” by the Open Source Initiative. According to the website for the Open Source Initiative it must meet several criteria to actually qualify as open source:

First of all open source software must not restrict anyone from selling (or giving away) the software. In other words, it cannot require a royalty or fee. For a product to be open source, it must also provide the source code so that the users can easily evolve the software to fit their needs and any software created with free software must be free as well. Furthermore, open source software distribution cannot discriminate against people or fields.

So, how did this concept begin? Most experts on open source software will agree that the concept of open source software began with the creation of the internet which was created and improved upon by it’s users who continually changed the code to make it work for them.

Then, when computers were first used, programs were often sent as a printed version that had to be entered into the computer line by line. Programmers not only entered the programs onto the computers, they also were able to “play” with the programs and make changes as well as share there ideas with others.

Once computer became more mainstream and people other than programmers began using programs, the need (and desire) for the source code declined. This is when software companies began realizing the economical benefits of keeping their source code for software private. This also began the influx of new and incompatible operating systems which further declined the ability for programmers to share and collaborate with one another. While there are benefits to creating and selling software in this manner, some programmers realized the limits this posed on the usability of the software.

Without keeping the source code open, the users were bound to the limits of the software and were not able to alter it to fit their individual needs. This is what began the development of the GNU Public License operating system for open source software. The premise behind renewing the concept of open source software is that software development would be faster and more efficient in giving people the programs they need and want to use.

Today, open source software is becoming more and more mainstream and is used quite frequently on the internet for websites and browsers.

How does it all relate to osCommerce?

Obvious by its name, osCommerce is based on the concept of open source software. This means that osCommerce is free to use and the community members can feed off of one another to continually develop the code that they use. The store owners don’t simply purchase a software program (such as a shopping cart code) that they need to implement as is. They can design, develop and evolve their store presence to meet their changing needs. The beauty of open source code in a situation such as this is that the members of the community can help one another develop new code on an ongoing basis.

Myles OReilly
http://www.articlesbase.com/ecommerce-articles/open-source-software-and-oscommerce-130944.html

Major corporate houses choose open source partly due to the economic gains and mainly due to the control the open source system gives to their hands.

The quest for control is a serious problem in open source arena. The problem sometimes seems trivial, but is really a loss of manpower by the professionals developing programs in open source environment. The problem is seeking too much of control leads developers develop their own solutions for specific issues.

Reinventing the wheel is quite a common problem in open source arena. Instead of using an already popular script, developers tend to write there own scripts for specific tasks. There may be hundreds of scripts with similar functions. There are however instances when a developer has to come up with something new when the existing system doesn’t give the expected results. Developing a code from scratch will be faster than modifying existing program.

Proprietary software, in this sense is quite advantageous here. The developers working with proprietary software hardly ever goes to coming up with their own script as a solution for immediate problems at hand. Then again, proprietary software developers too invent their own wheels, but the goal is to avoid nasty situations like legal problems.

The nature of shared development of software development appeals to the human nature to have control over their destiny. This is true even when they can get customized ’solutions’ by proprietary software vendors. The future is in open source, but it is premature to make predictions as to when Linux or an open source OS cross runs on 50% of the computers of the world.

Incidentally Microsoft Corporation’s Shared Source Program is an effort by the corporate giant to somehow win the trust of open source community. Though Microsoft allows a peek into the source code, redistribution rights are neither granted nor expected. Only an illusion of free handling of source code, shared source program lacks the democratic nature of all open source initiatives.

Back to open source initiatives - open source initiatives find it quite difficult to get professionally talented developers to the fold, especially in the beginning stages. This is true for almost all open source initiative. The situation reverses when there are enough people in the fold and the project takes momentum at SourceForge.net.

There is one last thought for major corporations that have become so stepping on open source shoulders – spare some of your resources to enrich free software and open source software community.

Sam Jose
http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/open-source-initiatives-need-more-concerted-efforts-92223.html

Open source billing systems are finding new way out through the small business firms everywhere.

This new billing software satisfies many businessmen. People who come up with new businesses are possible to make mistakes that will cost them a fine amount. Open Source billing system enables in proper accounting and reports you accordingly. A helping hand for the clients to come up from meddles of business.

Open source billing software helps anyone to make out a clear business plan too. All these services designs a layout for the new business programming services. Ticketing, account administration, rating, reporting, multi currencies support management, balance tracking, etc are performed. Freelance developers, small business firms, contract employers and other executives are made accessible to this facility. Open source billing system has made the system easily accessible and lessens the time for financial dealings.

Open source billing services with its efficient management in dealing with the business matters makes smooth running of the system. A rapid progress in the company’s structural and functional matters will result by this. Both businesspersons and employees can access open source billing system without depending on any client software. Installation assistance, support contracts, customs developments are a part of it. Open source billing system works on Linux, Windows, MySQL and more.

jbilling is one of the free open source billing systems that assist in automated payment system, processing of credit cards etc. jbilling targets on web based billing facilities that runs on different data bases- Java, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Hypersonic and Oracle. Hence these Open source billing system are adding a lot more in business world it makes the clients to come forth without any hesitation.

http://www.jbilling.com

Sam Jose
http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/open-source-billing-system-86989.html

Open Source Software and its Relation to osCommerce

E-commerce sites such as osCommerce function through the use and continued success of open source software – in fact, open source software is what makes these sites free. So what exactly is open source software? The purpose of article is to help you better understand what open source software is.

Basically, open source is based on the idea that when people have access to a software’s source code they can change, improve and evolve a piece of software at astonishing speeds – a characteristic that ends up produces really great software that meets the needs of its users.

Open source software is not just free code for website and software. Open source software is “governed” by the Open Source Initiative. According to the website for the Open Source Initiative it must meet several criteria to actually qualify as open source:

First of all open source software must not restrict anyone from selling (or giving away) the software. In other words, it cannot require a royalty or fee. For a product to be open source, it must also provide the source code so that the users can easily evolve the software to fit their needs and any software created with free software must be free as well. Furthermore, open source software distribution cannot discriminate against people or fields.

So, how did this concept begin? Most experts on open source software will agree that the concept of open source software began with the creation of the internet which was created and improved upon by it’s users who continually changed the code to make it work for them.

Then, when computers were first used, programs were often sent as a printed version that had to be entered into the computer line by line. Programmers not only entered the programs onto the computers, they also were able to “play” with the programs and make changes as well as share there ideas with others.

Once computer became more mainstream and people other than programmers began using programs, the need (and desire) for the source code declined. This is when software companies began realizing the economical benefits of keeping their source code for software private. This also began the influx of new and incompatible operating systems which further declined the ability for programmers to share and collaborate with one another. While there are benefits to creating and selling software in this manner, some programmers realized the limits this posed on the usability of the software.

Without keeping the source code open, the users were bound to the limits of the software and were not able to alter it to fit their individual needs. This is what began the development of the GNU Public License operating system for open source software. The premise behind renewing the concept of open source software is that software development would be faster and more efficient in giving people the programs they need and want to use.

Today, open source software is becoming more and more mainstream and is used quite frequently on the internet for websites and browsers.

How does it all relate to osCommerce?

Obvious by its name, osCommerce is based on the concept of open source software. This means that osCommerce is free to use and the community members can feed off of one another to continually develop the code that they use. The store owners don’t simply purchase a software program (such as a shopping cart code) that they need to implement as is. They can design, develop and evolve their store presence to meet their changing needs. The beauty of open source code in a situation such as this is that the members of the community can help one another develop new code on an ongoing basis.

Myles OReilly
http://www.articlesbase.com/ecommerce-articles/open-source-software-and-oscommerce-130944.html

Open source applications have gripped businesses across industries. Its use in the education sector has spelled a wave of phenomenal success for learning initiatives transversely through academic and corporate learning circles. Its high time educationalists unravel its power to revolutionize e-learning. With budgets for e learning initiatives contracting, it also becomes one of the most pocket friendly learning applications.

Definition of open source software

Software programs that are distributed along with their source code are called open source software programs. Users can run, study, modify, and redistribute the original or modified program. Though open source software is constructed on the same lines as proprietary software, it differs from the latter in the following issues

Since copious individuals and/or teams work on the program all at the same time, it evolves and advances at a far greater pace than those that are worked upon by a single team. A core team supervises the improvements made to the program before releasing them.

It can more efficiently meet the needs of users because it takes advantage of their collective expertise with improvements often being a consequence of users fixing their own problems or adding new features to the existing software.

The testing is done by scores of user teams working over different platforms and environments, unlike proprietary software, which ensures its superior quality.

The distributed and diverse team of developers, comprising of volunteers and users ensures the quality of the software application. Managing and organizing the work done by volunteers and users comes under the purview of the paid members of the development team.

Proprietary software applications have the disadvantage of limited viewership of the source code, whereas, an open source application possesses enhanced security features because of it being subjected to tight scrutiny by users.

Open source software in education

Though open source software has proved to be a boon to most of the businesses worldwide, it has had a marked effect on the education industry. Though open source applications have been used to produce infrastructure software for a while now, its use in the production of application software is only a recent development.

Universities and colleges have lead the way in producing open source applications like course management systems and electronic portfolios that compete directly with their proprietary counterparts. And at this rate of development, it will not be long before learning moves on to open source software from the proprietary one. The advantages of the open source applications in education, when juxtaposed with the drawbacks of their proprietary counterparts, have had immense impact on the functioning of institutions and learning organizations alike.

How open source software benefits e-learning

There are several benefits of an open source software as far as e learning is concerned. Some of them are

With e-learning budgets going through the roof, open source software fits many a pocket with its trademark markedly low or no license fee. The learning budget of an organization becomes more predictable, with decision makers having an choice of investment.

An open source software does not come with albatross of service providers, and hence gives institutions the freedom to choose them separately.

Development of functions or addition of features can be done at a desired rate, rather than pleading with the vendor and waiting endlessly for it to happen.

An open source LMS incorporates more flexible features, because of the community development efforts. This gives more power to both learners and instructors with the liberty of changing or modifying features according to needs rather than the other way round.

The collective success of the open source community is an outcome of peer support, wherein the success of one is reflected in the success of the all users.

There is a quick redressal of any problems that arise in connection with the software, because of its subjection to intense scrutiny by users, on different parameters including functionality, implementation and usability.

Low end software applications with outdated features face quick extinction, while well designed ones survive the rigorous testing that they go through.

An open source application is not subject to changing business models or acquisitions, which are the major sources of risk for an investment in software.

The service providers need to focus on the quality of services offered in order to retain clients, because they do not own the software themselves.

It supports innovation through collaboration, creativity, and a combination of ideas, which, in turn, enhances learning.

The open source application is a testimony to the fact that constant improvement and rapid development is the key to successful running of systems.

Wrap-up

The rapid evolution of e learning is being curtailed by the not-up-to-mark technology. Organizations often find themselves altering their learning needs to suit the e learning software, not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the best option available to them thanks to the perils of extensive customization. Open source software could change the face of e-learning for better, by empowering learners and instructors alike.

Vishwanath Shankar
http://www.articlesbase.com/e-learning-articles/open-source-applications-the-future-of-elearning-126315.html