Open Source Software and International Outsourcing

Abstract

The popularity of open source software (OSS) has exploded among consumers and software developers. For example, today, the most popular Web server on the Internet is Apache, an open source product. Additionally, Linux (often considered one of the perfect examples of OSS) is now contesting Microsoft’s dominance over the operating system market. OSS’ flexibility, moreover, has allowed it to become a key international technology that could affect developments in global business practices. Despite these beneficial aspects, there are those who would claim it is difficult to implement and its core developers are undependable hobbyists. The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with an overview of what OSS is, to present some of the benefits and limitations of using OSS, and to examine how international growth in OSS use could affect future business practices. By understanding these factors, readers will gain a better understanding of it and how OSS can be integrated into their organizational computing activities.