IT Business Edge: Open for Business

The world of software has changed rapidly since I put my first commercial website on the web ten years ago.

Back then, your software choices were simple: write your own, or go closed-source.

True, freeware has always existed, but there's a big difference between freeware and free open-source software.

FOSS allows you to have access to the source code.

That means that you can change the fundamental basics of the program to suit your own needs.

The FOSS movement has shaken up the business world. Linux servers are used by most Fortune 500 companies, and many of them put most or all of their critical apps on the venerable open-source operating system.

And the desktop is beginning to see Linux make inroads. At my own place of business, I run Ubuntu as my desktop of choice, and we also use many web terminals that are running either Fedora or Kubuntu Linux.

And FOSS programs are widely available for Windows, as well.

Today's FamilyFirst pick is IT Business Edge's blog Open for Business.

For those of you using software for business purposes, take a close look at what FOSS can do for you.

http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/osb/

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