OSS

OSS

1. What is OSS and OS hardware?

   • OSS
     • Software where the source code is made freely available to modify and which can be distributed freely
     • Developed in a decentralised community where communication and colloaboration is done over the internet
     • The development of OSS is likened to a Bazaar rather than a cathedral
   • Free software vs OSS
     • OSS is a development methodology
     • Free software is a social movement

2. OSS licences

   • Licenses which meet the OSI definition and have been through the approval process
   • Licences must allow for:
     • free distribution of software
     • free access to source code
     • derivative works
     • integrity of author work
     • Not discriminate again any persons/profession
     • Distribution of licese
     • Licence must not be specific to a product
     • Must not restrict other software
     • must be technology neutral
   • Categories
     • Copycentre
       • Moderately restrictive
       • Derivative works released under the original licence
       • Can be released under a different licence in certain situations
       • Code therefore doesn't always have to be made open source
       • e.g.: LGPL
     • Copyleft
       • Most restrictive
       • Derivative works are distributed under the original licence
       • All code (inclu. proprietary) must be made open source
       • e.g.: GPL
     • Non-restrictive
       • least restrictive
       • Only restriction is original author must be credited
       • E.g.: BSD
       • Don't have to distribute under original licence
     • The restriciions only apply when distributing software
     • Licences differ in terms of restrictiveness

3. Advantages and Drivers

   • Lower Cost
     • Availability of source code => less licencing costs and acquisition costs
     • Can incur hidden costs such as implementation and support
   • Scalability
     • Can modify source code to suit business needs
     • Open source code allows for modifications and innovation
   • Quality
     • Achieved through a number of developers reviewing the software
     • "Given enough eyeballs bugs are shallow"
   • Security
     • Source code is open to the public for inspection to detect security flaws
     • Flaws can be detected, reported and fixed quickly
   • Innovation
     • Access to source code allows for innovation and implementation of ideas

4. Disadvantages and challenges

   • Legal and licensing issues
     • With proprietary software it is clearly defined who is accountable when something goes wrong
     • Concerns about IP
     • Restrictiveness of licenses
   • Support
     • Limited support for implementation and supporting OSS applications due to scarce expertise
   • Lack of vendors
     • Lack of vendors for support, configuration and upgrades
   • Responsibility
     • Sometime there isn't one person responsible for the whole product
     • Uncertainty about who to hold responsible
   • Documentation
     • Availability and quality is an issue

5. Management Issues

   • Costs of using OSS
     • May have hidden costs
     • May be more or as much as Proprietary software
   • Risks
     • Risk of poor performance
       • Lack of guarantee or warranty
     • IP infringement risk
       • Some code may be licensed
     • Risk of reciprocity
       • Some licences may require code to be made open source
     • Risk of proliferation of OSS
       • Without policies in place OSS may proliferate in a business
   • OSS Governance
     • Usage policies
     • Communicate policies
     • Select OSS which siuports business needs