Open Source Software
Designer-lab chooses to use Open Source Software (OSS) as its source for Content Management Systems and the extensions to it that add function and flexibility. OSS is computer software for which the source code is provided under a software license that is free and in the public domain.
This permits users and developers to use, improve and redistribute the software in modified forms.
There are several advantages.
- The main advantage is that open source is a good way for business to achieve greater penetration of the market. Companies that offer OSS are able to establish an industry standard and, thus, gain competitive advantage.
- It has also helped build developer loyalty as developers feel empowered and have a sense of ownership of the end product.
- Moreover less costs of marketing and logistical services are needed for OSS.
- It also helps companies to keep abreast of all technology developments. The OSS development approach has helped produce reliable, high quality software quickly and inexpensively and the potential for a more flexible technology and quicker innovation.
- It is said to be more reliable since it typically has thousands of independent programmers testing and fixing bugs of the software.
- It is flexible because modular systems allow programmers to build custom interfaces, or add new abilities to it.
- OSS is innovative since open source programs are the product of collaboration among a large number of different programmers.
- Moreover free software can be developed in accord with purely technical requirements. It does not require to think about commercial pressure that often degrades the quality of the software. Commercial pressures make traditional software developers pay more attention to customers' requirements than to security requirements, since such features are somewhat invisible to the customer
