Open Source Software and Tools- A Positive Look

Open Source software is a staple in most modern careers.  One reason is that there are essential pros to using it.  Some developers would even argue that it is hard to find negatives with this approach.  Love it or hate it, Open Source is here to stay.  There are too many languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools that fall under this umbrella to ignore them.

The free factor of many open source tools and products has opened up development to a greater audience.  This push has even driven traditional software houses like Oracle and Microsoft to offer "free," trial, or developer versions of their tools.  We have seen the developer community grow at a rapid pace over the last few decades.  This change has come as the barriers to entry as a software developer have melted away.

It can be argued that the most significant positive with open source is that it prevents vendor lock-in.  We can use tools and software that we wholly own and can customize.  There is no need to worry about whether the vendor will be around in a few years.  We have all we need from them.  Yes, updates and patches are helpful.  However, we can at least create our roadmap when we have the source.

It may seem like this is a minor concern.  On the other hand, the road of IT history is littered with tools and systems that are almost impossible to use today.  That is a critical risk if your company needs that software to run.

The software side of open source may not be the most significant positive.  Many of these projects include a community that is not only helpful; it is vibrant.  These situations give rise to excellent opportunities to learn from others, get involved in mentoring, and generally spread your wings.

Episode Challenge: Check out an open-source project you are interested in. Consider contributing to it.

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