Better Off Open Source

What is open source software? Open source refers to any software program whose source code is shared and made freely available for use, alteration or modification. Source code “openness” allows users and developers to see how software is built and make changes to it as they see fit.

Proprietary software that is sold commercially works in an entirely different manner. Rather than making the code freely available, vendors jealously guard the source code, making modification (by outsiders) to the existing software impossible. Companies who create proprietary software retain complete ownership over the technology or product and carefully guard its inner workings.

What are some of the pros and cons of using open source software?

Open source software is of higher quality because it is constantly improving. Both users and developers are able to continually improve software when they are able to see the code and have the power to change it.

Using open source allows you to repair and modify defective code or add functionality.

This transparency is critical for debugging and fixing security holes.
Commercial software does not permit this flexibility since the source code is unavailable to all but the programmers who designed it.

Linked with this is the issue of speed. Open source models facilitate quicker improvements to software. Commercial software upgrades take far longer to go to market, while open source versions can be released immediately.

Open source gives customers a much greater ability to tailor, customize and fine-tune software to meet their requirements and business needs.

A well-documented benefit, open source software does not involve costly licensing fees and is freely available.

Cons

Using open source software requires knowledgeable technical personnel. This could prove costly for small and mid-sized enterprises.

Platform compatibility can become an issue as open source software is written primarily for Unix and Linux and less so for Win NT. This could make using certain Microsoft applications problematic.

Open source software often does not include accompanying telephone and technical support.

How Does This Apply to Hosting?

There are many benefits.

Open source software has a reputation for stability and robustness. Many proponents believe that this makes it the best software option for web hosting. In an industry where maximum uptime and load capacity are of critical importance, running stable systems is indispensable.

Security is another significant hosting issue, especially with E-commerce sites. With open source software, security problems can be repaired quickly and improved upon on an ongoing basis.

Finally, adaptability is crucial for hosting. Increased adaptability allows hosting operations to offer a wider range of hosting features and implement customization.

Hosting Companies and Open Source
Many believe hosting companies are better off using open source software.
In their words, “the major significance of using open source software in our operation is twofold: freedom and cost. We are able to set up our operation exactly the way we need it set up, and to code in any patches, fixes or additional features we need, without any trouble whatsoever.”

The ability to modify and edit code, enables “repair work” to happen very quickly. Companies are able to roll out upgrades and patches to the operating system and the software that runs under it.
According to Davidzon, “most web hosts do not have that capacity, and have to outsource work.”

The ability to continuously upgrade software is especially important in the area of security. Davidzon explains: “All of our software is continuously (and often automatically) upgraded, in order to maintain the utmost security and reliability…we’re able to roll out upgrades and patches faster than any of our competitors - thus assuring the maximum uptime, security, and stability for our clients.”

As the hosting industry continues to evolve, keep an eye out for the growing open source movement. It’s an intriguing concept with a world of possibilities.
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