Open Source Initiative Logo

Something I’ve had to contend with over the years was working with clients who were afraid to develop or build their applications from open source software platforms. It has been especially frustrating when a client wanted features that were readily available with a very brief installation, but because they were resistant to open source demanded that we reinvent the wheel over and over again.

While I understand where these fears stem from, mostly the myths perpetuated by the makers of proprietary titles that open source comes with a lack of quality support and is a security risk since the source code is widely available for anyone with malicious intentions to exploit–I have still gone to great lengths with these clients to show them that the myths are typically unfounded, the platform support behind many projects is equal or superior to competitive licensed titles, and that unlike commercial titles, the community behind open source programs rarely try to “save face” by hiding security holes or exploitations and in-fact is often very fast to react to such situations and create a patch or upgrade quickly.

That’s because the community behind open source projects aren’t spending resources on marketing and brand management, they’re usually personally committed to ensuring the software is functional and secure because they themselves are using it.

So, far beyond the time and cost savings associated with using open source when possible, I’m a fan when I know the people behind it are caring for and growing the title as if it were their own child. In my experience you can’t beat that type of community support for any price.

Which is why I was excited this morning to read that the White House has embraced an open source CMS [content management syste] for the new Recovery.gov site where the public can browse and track the spending and results of the new stimulus package the President signed yesterday.

First of all, despite any political leanings I think we all can agree to offer kudos to the Obama administration for saving taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary commercial CMS when Drupal, the CMS being used, is a fine title with a long and proven reputation and devoted community behind it.

But more importantly to me is that this move may make it slightly easier to convince small business clients that using open source solutions which already fit their needs is a safe, fiscally sound and viable option over developing from scratch.

My Uncle once asked me why I care about this when building from scratch just means a bigger project paycheck for me. The answer is about volume. While I’m busy reinventing the wheel for client “A”, I have to turn away clients “B” and “C”.

I’d much rather earn a smaller paycheck from “A”, and be able to make “B” and “C” happy too, so that I’ll have all 3 coming back to me over and over again in the future.

I believe that a big paycheck from a single client will pay your bills for this month, but a large base of repeat clients will pay your bills every month.

What do you think, are you using open source technologies in your business or websites? Why, or why not?

Email this post

Technorati Tags: open source software platforms, open source solutions, open source technologies, White House