Post on 15-Jan-2015
description
Open Source Desktop Applications
it360, May 2007Dru Lavigne
Audience
●Anyone interested in learning more about Open Source applications
● Those looking for strategies for encouraging the use of Open Source within their organization
●You!
Outline
●What this talk is not
●Open Source demythified
●Why bother?
●Application Equivalents
Outline
●Finding Quality Software
●Surviving the Transition
●Long term planning
●Additional Resources
A Quick Note on Format...
●The slides are guidelines only
●Let me know if it is time to pass out these:
A Quick Note on Format...
●Share your experience: successes and flops
●Don't be afraid to:
If your experience was a...
Explain why. Was it:
● Lack of features?● Lack of support?● Undocumented?● Un-intuitive?● Something else?
If your experience was...
What made it so great?
● The price?● The features?● The ease of use?● Something else?
A Quick Note on Format...
● Please keep in mind that we only have three hours
A Quick Note on Format....
● And to respect others' experiences.
● After all, it is only software....
What this talk is not
Since I'm not a business analyst...
...there won't be much on ROI or TCO
If you need to bring some back to your employer, show him these:
What this talk is not
Since I'm not a fanatic...
...there won't be (too) much of a sales pitch for Open Source applications.
What this talk is not
Since I'm not anti-commercial software...
...there won't be any commercial bashing:
After all, it's only software
And you should always choose the best tool for the job at hand
Open Source demythified
What exactly is Open Source????
Open Source demythified
A definition?
Open Source demythified
A license?
Many licenses?
Open Source demythified
Shareware?
Pirated software?
Open Source demythified
Open Source fictions include...
Open Source demythified
●Only suited for protocols and programming languages
●Geeks only need apply
●Developers only need apply
●Makes for a great server but a lousy desktop
Open Source demythified
●Everything is command line
●GUI applications are ugly
●Applications lack features
●There is no such thing as application support
Okay if those are all myths, that doesn't sound too bad...
...but really:
Why bother?
Why bother?
What are the benefits if I do?
Why bother?
What are the drawbacks if I don't?
Application Equivalents
●Do they exist?
●Is foo equal to bar or to FUBAR?
Finding Quality Software
There is no lack of choice....
...if anything, there is too much to choose from
Finding software can feel like sorting through the good, the bad, and the ugly...
Finding Quality Software
There is hope...
Repositories of the highest quality equivalents do exist:
Finding Quality Software
There is hope...
...there are guideposts to assist you:
Information Week: Feb. 5, 2007How to Tell the Open Source Winners from the Losers
Surviving the Transition
How painful is it...really?
That depends....
Surviving the Transition
●How much are you changing at once?●
●What is your timeline?●
●Have you done your homework?●
●Do you have realistic expectations?
Surviving the Transition
But my users (and/or management) are allergic to change!
Surviving the Transition
●Start with baby steps
●Know what you are achieving and why
●There are software options for bridging the gap:
Surviving the Transition
What resources and checklists are available to gauge Open Source readiness?
Long term Planning
Support options:
●Community is double-edged sword, especially for business needs
●Many Open Source projects have a commercial support arm
●Non-project specific commercial support options also exist:
Long term Planning
Training options:
●Courseware and trainers are available for most of the better known software
●Many certification programs also exist
Long term Planning
Licensing:
●Even if you don't plan on modifying software, understand licensing issues before you migrate
Additional Resources
Additional Resources