Perhaps my favorite internet initiative is the collaborative effort developers put forth to create open source software. Here at ecotypes.com, I promote open source Content Management Systems (CMSs) as a viable alternative to proprietary CMS products. By using open source software, I can keep my clients’ costs down since they are not required to pay any sort of annual licensing fee. I find that open-source software is better supported and I feel much more comfortable about the product’s longevity since there are literally thousands of developers who have a vested interest in keeping their projects alive and well.
In order to conveniently test websites within a Windows environment, I’ve recently purchased a laptop that runs on the Windows OS. [This is the first time I’ve actually purchased a Windows product as I have been a devoted Mac fan since 1985.]
As a test, I have decided that I will only run open source software on this PC. So, first thing I did after connecting my laptop to my home network was to download my favorite open source application–Open Office. This application is stable, very well supported and totally replaces Microsoft Office. Not only can you open and edit MS Office documents, spreadsheets, etc., but you can also save/export back to the MS Office format. I used Open Office, in lieu of MS Office, while working as an Applications Development Specialist for a Fortune 500 company. It worked flawlessly and none of my coworkers ever knew the difference.
The second application I installed was my favorite web browser–Firefox. Mozilla’s Firefox is the “Swiss Army Knife” of web browsers–it’s designed to incorporate feature-rich add ons that enhance your browsing/development experience.
As time goes on, I will install many other open source applications–especially those created to help web developers.
If you would like to “go” open source, I would encourage you to check out OSAlt.com, a site designed to help you find open source alternatives to commercially available products.
-Thomas