Open source projects, such as Linux and Java, have gained strength in mainstream businesses by serving as low-cost alternatives to commercial software. These capabilities rival those of proprietary software, thanks to support from a large developer community. Popular open source projects can also accelerate open standards, the collective building blocks for products, by serving as the common implementation. Businesses and vendors using open standards free up development and services budgets for items that offer higher value and competitive advantage.
Open source is a part of the wider open computing movement, along with open standards and open architecture. Together, these initiatives enable integration and flexibility, and benefit customers by helping them avoid vendor lock-in.
Enterprises are often required to adhere to various industry compliance and technology governance requirements, so it's important to consider the implications of open technology...