Open Source & Open Standards
Evolution driven by collaboration
Introduction
At GMX TEC we are adopters of the open source mind frame and collective. Open Source is the driving force in some of the most amazing advancements in computing and science. It is now a proven fact that open source has become a major force in the industry. Open source software is used by everyone these days. From routers, to phones, desktops, IoT and servers .
So believe it or not you are already using it on a daily basis. We believe that propriety solutions are a thing of the past and a major risk for businesses out there.
We actively participate in various open source projects and encourage our clients to choose this path as well.
What's the difference between open source software and other types of software?
Its authors make their source code available to others who would like to view that code, copy it, learn from it, alter it, or share it. Linux, Android, Open Office, LibreOffice , Mysql , PHP , Python the list is endless.
As with proprietary software, terms of a license must be accepted by the user when it comes to open source software—but the legal terms of open source licenses differ dramatically from those of proprietary licenses.
How does it affect people?
Open source licenses affect the way people can use, study, modify, and distribute software. In general, open source licenses grant computer users permission to use open source software for any purpose they wish.
Some open source licenses—what some people call "copyleft" licenses—stipulate that anyone who releases an open source program that has been modified must also release the source code for that program alongside it. Moreover, some open source licenses stipulate that anyone who alters and shares a program with others must also share that program's source code without charging a licensing fee for it.
Is open source software only important to computer programmers?
No. Open source technology benefits programmers and non-programmers.
Why do people prefer using open source software?
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Control. Many people prefer open source software because they have more control over that kind of software.
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Training. Other people like open source software because it helps them become better programmers.
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Security. Some people prefer open source software because they consider it more secure than proprietary software.
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Stability. Many users prefer open source software to proprietary software for important, long-term projects, since they consider it to be more stable.
What are 'standards'?
ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, defines standards as "a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose."
What makes a standard "open"?
Under OASIS (open standards organization), technical committees (TCs) develop the standards, and then for the standard to be adopted by the consortium as an open standard, it must:
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be created by domain experts (not SDO staff);
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be developed under and internationally respected, open process (i.e., be open for public review and debate);
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be easy to access and adopt;
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have allowed anyone affected by the standard to contribute to the development of it;
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not have hidden patents to scare implementers.
Linux as an open source operating system
Linux is the best-known and most-used open source operating system. As an operating system, Linux is software that sits underneath all of the other software on a computer, receiving requests from those programs and relaying these requests to the computer’s hardware.
Why we choose open source?
No Licenses
In Open Source you don't pay for the software but only at your choice for the support and maintenance.
Company Independence
If the company that created the software fails, the code can still exist and evolve via its user community.
It's Easy to Manage
You can install open source software in as many locations as you want, with no need to count, track or monitor it for license compliance.
Open your Business to new possibilities
Today the most forward-thinking organizations—whatever their missions—are embracing openness as a necessary orientation toward success.
And GMX is leading the way !
Open Software leads to great things !
GMX as part of the movement, works with great agility and increased engagement.
Be part of our innovating system where ideas from both inside and outside the organization receive more equitable consideration and rapid experimentation.
Transparency
In open organizations, transparency reigns. As much as possible (and advisable) under applicable laws, open organizations work to make their data and other materials easily accessible to both internal and external participants.
Inclusivity
Open organizations are inclusive. They not only welcome diverse points of view but also implement specific mechanisms for inviting multiple perspectives into dialog wherever and whenever possible.
Adaptability
Open organizations are flexible and resilient organizations. Organizational policies and technical apparatuses ensure that both positive and negative feedback loops have a genuine and material effect on organizational operation.
Right then.
So what is Closed Source?
Closed source software can be defined as proprietary software distributed under a licensing agreement to authorized users with private modification, copying, and republishing restrictions.
Or in other terms, the source code is not shared with the public for anyone to look at or change. Closed source is the opposite of open source.
Generally, the key differentiators between open and closed come down to a few factors:
Cost
Service
Innovation
Usability
Security
The premise of open source software sounded like a dream when the Free Software movement kicked off. Since then, however, the concept has paved the way for much-loved tech icons such as the GNU/Linux operating system, the Apache HTTP Server and the Mozilla Firefox browser.
Today, CIOs and other IT decision-makers are increasingly recognizing the value of open source software.
In the era of continuous improvement, open source represents the essence of communal collaboration as it allows IT experts to examine a product’s source code, improve or alter it, and distribute it as they desire.
Indeed, enthusiasm for open source software is driving a "golden era" in application.