Open Source is Not An Alternative, It is The Solution

Open Source is Not An Alternative, It is The Solution

Open Source is Not An Alternative, It is The SolutionHow Business Benefits from Open Source and How Open Source Can Be Your Business

Thomas Wiradikusuma ([email protected])Java User Group Indonesia

RITECH EXPO 2008

Java User Group IndonesiaBiggest (2800+) Java-only community in Indonesia.

Members vary from students, professionals to business owners.

Founded in April 2003 by open source entrepreneur Frans Thamura.

Currently coordinated by duo JUG Leaders, Thomas Wiradikusuma and Joshua Partogi.

Sister community: JUG Geulis and JUG JogloSemar.

Part of JUG worldwide, a group of people who share a common interest in Java technology.

Thomas WiradikusumaSystems Architect in m-STARS, one of the biggest Content Provider in Indonesia.

Founder of Open Source Dewantara Student Information System.

Currently writing a book to help people pick the right technology when learning or doing development in Java.

AgendaOpen Source Introduction

How Business Benefits from Open Source

How Open Source Can Be Your Business

THE SOURCE IS STRONG WITH YOUOpen Source Introduction

A Journey to the SourceEverything begins from the Source (code).

Geek, err, programmer creates the source code.

Source code gets compiled by compiler, resulting in executable (binary code).

Protecting the SourceIn proprietary software, typically you buy a license (the right) to use some binary code. You do not buy ownership.

No access to the Source:

Cant add feature.

Cant fix bug.

Cant do security audit.

Your life is in the hands of Vendors. BHUAHAHA! (Just hope they dont go out of business or end support)

Meet Open SourceFull access to the Source. What if you cant program? Dont worry, lots of geeks can.

Distribute (make copies) legally. Software distribution cost is virtually zero. If it's free to share, why not?

With enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow.... (Linus's Law)

FSF and OSIFree Software Foundation, founded by Richard Stallman. More philosophical.

Open Source Initiative, founded by Bruce Perens and Eric S. Raymond. More practical.

FOSS (Free/Open Source Software) for those who dont care about the differences.

Benefits of Open SourceCost:

Zero acquisition cost.

Freedom:

Not restricted to modify, learn, distribute.

No Lock-in means your investment is safe.

Quality:

Cutting edge innovation.

Vendors innovate on top of a common base.

Peer review. Bugs, security holes found by others.

Programmers write better code/docs, knowing it'll be scrutinized, their respect on the line.

Legal StuffThe code author still own the copyright, just granting a blanket license to anybody who wants one, the license of which permits them certain rights to the code, under certain conditions.

Common Open Source licenses:

Apache Software License

BSD License

Common Development and Distribution License

GPL

Mozilla Public License

Dual license is possible, but harder if you dont own all the code.

Inclusion in Your SoftwareNot owning all your code doesn't mean you can't use it in a proprietary product.

Obey license terms.

GPL: little more care, but fine if you give back the necessary changes (not your entire project).

Failure to comply with license wont make the sky fall. Relax!

OPEN SOURCE IS ALL AROUND YOUHow Business Benefits from Open Source

O/S: LinuxOriginally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The GNU contribution is the basis for the alternative name GNU/Linux.

Used in numerous domains, from embedded systems to supercomputers, and has secured a place in server installations with the popular LAMP application stack.

Other popular options: OpenSolaris, FreeBSD.

Web Server: Apache HTTPDDeveloped and maintained under Apache Software Foundation. Available for a wide variety of operating systems.

Most popular HTTP server on the World Wide Web.

Other popular options: Nginx, lighttpd.

Mail Server: PostfixFormerly known as VMailer and IBM Secure Mailer, originally written by Wietse. First released in mid-1999.

The default MTA (mail transfer agent) for a number of Unix(-like) operating systems such as Ubuntu.

Other popular options: qmail, Sendmail.

RDBMS: MySQLOwned and sponsored by the Swedish company MySQL AB, now a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems.

Has more than 11 million installations. Widely used to support websites.

Other popular options: PostgreSQL, SQLite.

Programming Language: JavaDeveloped by Sun Microsystems and open sourced in November 2006 under the GNU General Public License.

Used in a wide variety of computing platforms spanning from embedded devices to enterprise servers and supercomputers.

Other popular options: PHP, Python.

IDE: EclipseInitial codebase originated from IBM VisualAge. Meant for Java developers but also available for other programming languages.

Very popular among Java developers, used by NASA and Adobe.

Other popular options: NetBeans, Notepad++.

Blog: WordPressOfficial successor of b2\cafelog, developed by Michel Valdrighi. The name was suggested by Christine Selleck, a friend of lead developer Matt Mullenweg.

Most popular blog publishing system.

Other popular options: b2evolution, Roller.

Wiki: MediaWikiDeveloped by Wikimedia Foundation and used by Wikipedia and many other wikis, including some of the largest and most popular ones.

Deployed by companies for internal knowledge management. Novell uses it to operate several of its high traffic websites.

Other popular options: PhpWiki, TikiWiki.

CMS: JoomlaA fork of Mambo by the development team on August 17, 2005. Features page caching to improve performance, RSS feeds, printable versions of pages, news flashes, blogs, polls, website searching, and language internationalization.

Widely used in the World Wide Web.

Other popular options: Mambo, Drupal.

Web Browser: FirefoxDeveloped and maintained under Mozilla Foundation. Available for a wide variety of operating systems.

Most popular Web browser.

Other popular options: Konqueror, K-Meleon.

E-mail Client: ThunderBirdDeveloped and maintained under Mozilla Foundation. Available for a wide variety of operating systems.

One of the most popular open source e-mail clients.

Other popular options: Evolution, Claws Mail.

Office Suite: OpenOfficeOriginally derived from StarOffice, an office suite developed by StarDivision and acquired by Sun Microsystems in August 1999.

Most of the time can be used as direct replacement for Microsoft Office.

Other popular options: Koffice, GNOME Office.

ERP: CompiereERP and CRM business solution for the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) in distribution, retail, service and manufacturing.

Apparently the most mature open source solution for ERP.

Other popular options: OFBiz, Openbravo.

Other (Non-Obvious) OccurrencesAlfresco, enterprise content management system.

Android, software stack for cellphone from Google.

GCC, the GNU C Compiler.

Gimp, graphics manipulation software.

Kannel, WAP gateway.

Liferay, enterprise portal.

Magento, e-commerce system.

phpBB, forum engine.

Symbian, operating system for many Nokia series.

VirtualBox, virtualization product.

WebKit, browser engine used by Safari.

Any many many more!

TipsGo with the popular ones

Google is your friend

Spend time to hangout (join communities)

Find support providers

Start small

Embrace change

Discover new ways instead of comparing it apple-to-apple (with proprietary solutions)

Prepare Plan B (just in case)

OPEN SOURCE COMMERCIALLYHow Open Source Can Be Your Business

Why NOT Open Source?You are not selling software

You are Microsoft (or Oracle, or anything huge)

You already dominate the market

You are in niche market

Your are developing tailor-made software (ISVs)

You have the best people in the world

You have 100% guaranteed working marketing campaign

Conventional Business ModelCome up with a piece of software.

Figure out what unit of measure to charge for (seat, server, CPU, year, month).

Charge as much as you think the traffic will bear.

Lock in (if you can get it).

Portions copyright 2007 Brent C. Williams, made available under the EPL v1.0

Open Source Business ModelHave to make money on every sale (in most cases). Cant discount the license 90% up front, then nail em on maintenance next year.

Typically priced by subscription over time since you dont have a license asset to sell up front.

Can still demonstrate enough growth to be attractive to early-stage investors; just have to think that way.

Beware the Red Hat trap.


Typical Business ModelDual Licensing

MySQL, Trolltech, Sleepycat, etc.

GPL license for free. Pay money for more permissive license (and support).

Support Contracts

SLAs

sell a warranty

fix it if it breaks

Trainings, Courses and Certifications

Intangibles Are Your AssetGood community behaviour is expected.

Bad behaviour becomes widely known and can end up backfiring.

Power of brand can offset perceived commoditization and other effects.


Myths of Open SourceIts a weaker business model than proprietary because there is no lock in.

Somehow prices must be lower because the customer perceived value of open source equivalent is lower (they didnt have to build it all themselves, so Im not going to pay as much).

Commoditization will wipe out everyones profits.


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