OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE BY: SAMANTHA HERALD Otherwise known as OSS, is computer software that is...
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OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE BY: SAMANTH A HERALD
OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE BY: SAMANTHA HERALD Otherwise known as OSS, is computer software that is available with source code: normally reserved for copyright
Otherwise known as OSS, is computer software that is available
with source code: normally reserved for copyright holders are
provided under an open-source license that permits users to study,
change, improve and at times also to distribute the software. Prime
examples of open source products are the Apache HTTP Server, the
e-commerce platform osCommerce, and the internet browser Mozilla
Firefox. One of the most successful open source products is the
GNU/Linux operating system, an open source Unix-like operating
system, and its derivative Android, an operating system for mobile
devices.
Slide 5
From many places. The Sourceforge website hosts a wide variety
of free and open source software. Each tool also usually has its
own site, often created and maintained by volunteers who coordinate
or moderate further development of the tool. Discussion boards and
lists are also common, to enable people who want to modify software
to communicate with people who may already have done it, or who may
be able to help in some way.
Slide 6
Software can be developed as a consulting project for one or
more customers. The customers pay to direct the developers'
efforts: to have bugs prioritized and fixed or features added.
Companies or independent consultants can also charge for training,
installation, technical support, or customization of the software.
Another approach to funding is to provide the software freely, but
sell licenses to proprietary add- ons such as data libraries. For
instance, an open-source CAD program may require parts libraries
which are sold on a subscription or flat-fee basis. Open-source
software can also promote the sale of specialized hardware that it
interoperates with, as in the case of the Asterisk telephony
software, developed by a manufacturer of PC telephony hardware.
Many open-source software projects have begun as research projects
within universities, as personal projects of students or
professors, or as tools to aid scientific research. The influence
of universities and research institutions on open source shows in
the number of projects named after their host institutions, such as
BSD Unix, CMU Common Lisp, or the NCSA HTTPd which evolved into
Apache.
Slide 7
ADVANTAGES No cost or a lower cost for licensing "open source"
solutions Flexibility to adapt the software for particular health
care solutions Continuing software enhancements available through
the open source community "Mission" rather than "market" objectives
focused on patient-centered, population-based health improvement
Open architecture allows for greater opportunities for health
information exchange Ability to incorporate tools for personal
health, such as personal health records DISADVANTAGES Often no
single source to support all aspects of the application; multiple
sources of technical and clinical support may be required Must
understand business logic to adjust configuration or make code
adjustments to meet unique work flow and clinical needs User
assumes more "ownership" of the solution than under proprietary
licenses, including initiation of upgrades, enhancements,
configuration and support of software Difficult to engage support
of vendors with practical experience in supporting the application;
often they have retired or left the agency
Slide 8
OPEN-SOURCE OPERATING SYSTEMS o There are several open-source
operating systems, most of which appear to be clones of Unix. o
Examples include: o FreeBSD o Linux o Minix o Android OFFICE
PRODUCTIVITY PACKAGES o Word o Excel o Power Point o Outlook o
OneNote o Access