• Open Source Software Concepts


These resources of concepts represent just a cross section of the vast world of Open Source Software. However, this is an excellent starting point into understanding and becoming aware of some of the key concepts.

• Open Source
  This website is an informative website that provides major definitions and compliance criteria relating to the Open Source Software industry. The information that is provided is easy to understand by varying skill levels and gives an excellent overview. The origins and development of open source software could have been dealt with in more detail.
• Open Source Initiative - OSI
  This is the official site of the non-profit body that provides OSI certified Open Source Software certification. Provides quick links to Open Source Definition. The site is not yet complete and solicits thoughts and criticism from visitors.
• License
  This website provides an initial starting point to knowing about the different types of licenses associated to Open Source Software. This website is both detailed and comprehensive in its coverage, providing an excellent organization of licenses based on certain factors such as whether they are free, copyrighted, or have any practical and compatability issues. While most of the resources provide adequate descriptions, some only had skeletal descriptions limited to whether they were free or not.
• Open Source goes Mainstream
  This resource provides a short list of some of the main concepts, tools and tools within Open Source Software. In conjunction with the concepts, this resource also discusses and provides links to other resources that are helpful relating to Open Source Software. A limitation of this resource is that not all the items on the link lists are hyperlinked or adequate descriptions provided.

• Annotated Webliography on Open Source Software Development
  This resource produced by Dr. Nikolai Bezroukov gives a summary of key concepts and phrases as well as issues. The strength of this resource is that it is not limited to just definitions but offers discussions on individual phrases as well as provides additional resources. The limitation of this site is that it is not organized or arranged in a clear and consise manner which does not do justice to the valuable resources presented.
• Webopedia
  This is an online dictionary for computer and Internet terms. This resource gives the added benefit of highlighting new terms as well as recently added terms. The drop down menu that lists the different categories are well organized, however, more concepts could be added in order to achieve a more comprehensive database.

• Open Source Software Products
There are a variety of open source software products that have been developed including Operating systems, Integrated Library Systems, Internet Software and Programming Tools. This is a representation of a few of the top software products that are currently available.

• Linux
  This is the website for Linux, a widely used operating system that closely resembles Unix. This site includes a variety of forums which are of great benefit to both potential and active users. This site does not seem to have any of their ongoing projects listed.
• Apache
  This website is devoted to Apache which is an Internet software that runs approximately 50% of the world's web servers. A myriad of apache projects are hyperlinked proving to be an excellent update tool. The Apache projects do not have brief annotations listed thereby not giving an idea of what each project entails.
• Sendmail
  This site is maintained by the Sendmail Consortium and is a popular e-mail programme that delivers e-mails to the Internet. The site has the added benefit of providing the different versions of sendmail for downloading as well as primary resources for becoming familiar with sendmail. The layout of the site is not very user friendly due to the fact that the categories are few and far in between thereby resulting in a confusing organization.
• Greenstone
  This site showcases the Greenstone software which is a multilingual software that is able to serve and create digital library collections. An excellent demo is available which gives a hands on experience as to how the site would look and function if a user wanted to try this software. Problems may arise in confiuration, however, additional examples and explanation can be accessed at www.ndzl.com.
• Koha
  The Koha website gives information on the first Open Source Library System offering a full catalog, OPAC, ciculation, member management and acqusition package. The strength of this website is evident in the option of test driving both the member access module and the librarian access module.
• Darwin - Open Source
  This resource highlights Apple's open source Mac user software. Open Source projects are provided so that users can know what the emerging products will be. The information provided is unique in that it is geared towards Mac users, however, an adequate description of what and how Darwin works is not apparent.
• FreeBSD
  This resource presents an overview of the free software FreeBSD as well covers the different platforms and new technology. A strong point of this site is the availablity of a gallery of examples for the FreeBSD applications and services. Another strong point is the inclusion of project news thereby making it easier for users.

• Open Source Companies
Open Source is becoming a fast growing technolology. The major computer technology companies have become involved in developing Open Source Software. These resources include these companies as well as smaller not popularly known companies.
• Red Hat Enterprise
  This is the official site for Red Hat which is the provider of Linux and Open Source technology. This website gives resources on how to migrate clients current systems to Red Hat Enterprises. This site does not necessarily have any weak points as all information is geared towards the company, its products and users.
• IBM
  IBM Corporation provides software for the Linux operating system and provides information on products used in installation and development. This site provides additional information not related to Open Source and gives users a general view of IBM's involvement in technology. Getting to information on Linux was not as easy as it should be with the relevant information being two to three clicks away.
• Hewlitt Packard
  This site is geared towards all the products that HP develops including the Compaq IPAQ; information ranges from the support of commercial customers using Open Source Software to information on their product line. This site is very easy to read and is not congested. However, it may prove be too limited in information for users wanting more.
• Sun
  Sun Microsystem site provides coverage on products and services as well as provides resources to varying types of individuals and specialty. The availability of the learn more feature is beneficial for those looking to get information of their products. Open Source Software as a concept is not prominent on the site, users may need to go deeper into the website.
• Sleepycat Software, Inc.
  Privately owned Sleepycat Software dedicates its site to their products, solutions and support. A very useful feature on this site is the marketing and promotional aspect whereby the current customers of their leading software, Berkeley DB, an application specific data management sotware is highlighted. This site does not make new user information readily available.
• SGI
  This site features information on products and services, industries,and developers. Highlights includes information on upcoming conferences and the subject matter to be presented. Open source appears as a drop down link under developer and may be lost to some visitors to the site.
• Zope Corporation
  This is the site for Zope Corporation that supports the Zope software an Open Source Software application server for building content by providing extensive documentation including guides, projects, installation procedures, etc. This site not only highlights services to webmasters, product developers, Zope developers, but to new users as well.

• Open Source Software Usability
The resources presented here are a mix of usability reports, methodology as well as showcasing the growth of the use of Open Source Software.
• The Usability of Open Source Software
  This article written by David Nichols and Michael Twidale provides analysis of the issues associated with the usability of open software as well as how factors relating to development affects usability. The strengh of this article lays with the authors additional suggestions of appropriate usability improvement methods as well as visions for the future. Individual Open Source Software was not mentioned in detail and a comparative analysis of usability issues of the major products would have been informative.

• Improving Usability of Open Source Software: Usability of StarOffice Calc
  This article covers ways in which Open Source Software can be improved by conducting comparative usability test on StarOffice Calc and Microsoft Excel a spreadsheet package. The information presented in this article served as a good example for doing usability testing as well as the problems and possible improvements that can be implemented. Although, a link was made available in this article to the study report, more definitive statistics should be included.

• Open Source Software Flourishes in Boston Area
  This article highlights the growing use of Open Source Software in Boston. A great article that shows how Open Source Software businesses are breaking into the market and increasing their offices and employees. An increase in employment was noted but usage statistics were not presented.
• Gnome Usability Study Report
  This report written by individuals from Sun GNOME Human Computer Interaction(HCI) and Sun Microsystems, Inc is an extensive resource including usability principles and checklists of things that users can do for themselves in order to accomplish successful use of this software. Very well organized and includes a short version in the Executive summary. May become confusing in navigating for less experienced users.
• Why Open Source Software /Free Software (OSS/FS?) Look at the numbers
  This article provides a quantitative analysis of data on the use of Open Source Software relating to reliability, performanace and other favorable characteristics. This is very comprehensive and detailed oriented, however it is very easy to understand. The length of this article may be too much for some individuals affecting usability.

• Open Source Software Projects
The resources presented in this section features some of the projects that are ongoing and will ultimately create new product and services for the Open Source Software market. Access to the individual companies will also give an extensive cross section of projects that they are involved in.
• OpenSSL
  This site provides a brief overview of the tool Secure Socket Layer -SSL. Provides a newsflash area for its users. This resource is very limited in content and scope.
• Open Source Projects
  This site lists and describes featured and top open source projects as well as project news. A useful feature of this site is the option to select a project from a drop down menu allowing easy access to individual projects.
• Open Source PKI
  This site provides information on projects as well as various open sources tools. Information on the tools as well as download information is beneficial. This site did not provide an adequate amount of projects.
• SourceForge.net
  This website provides comprehensive information on source code and applications on the Internet acting as a repository. Great that developers can go to one place and access this type of information. May be too overwhelming for less proficient users.
• Open Technology Portal
  This website provides an overview of projects for several Open Source Software. It is not one dimensional because it offers a comprehensive directory of different software projects from different companies. It is very beneficial to have all these major projects accessible in one place.
• A Framework for Open Source Projects
  This resource is a master thesis in computer technology and provides a broad overview of Open Source Software and most importantly provides comparative analysis on the different types of projects. The reading of this thesis will give a reader a working knowledge of open source projects as well as primary concepts. Although an index is provided, it does not have the added benefit of linking to individual sections, therefore in order to read, it may require the printing of the full document or interested sections.

Created by Veralrose Hylton
© Veralrose Hylton 2004