From being a miniscule part of the software world just a couple of decades ago, open source has become ubiquitous today. It is so prevalent to the extent of not being visible because it is embedded in the mainstream. According to a Gartner report on open source software, “By 2012, more than 90% of enterprises will use open source in direct or embedded forms”.
And this has resulted in a change in how software development takes place. From being a fully closed process, software development has been evolving towards a more community driven open source approach. Large and small enterprises and government institutions are rapidly adopting open source for three primary reasons: to reduce IT costs, deliver systems faster, and make systems more secure.
More often than not, ISVs are on the constant look out for an open source strategy that would address the demands of their customers. This could mean adopting an open source component or an entire open source license for their products. Whichever path they choose to go, open source does come with a certain amount of risk that needs to be managed.
Open source adoption is being considered everywhere, but one needs to remember that open source is far from free. And it requires an equal amount of support and services, just as proprietary software does. ISVs need to realize this and should continue offering quality professional services, which is a good revenue stream for them as well.
While open source may not work for every ISV, it’s for them to decide whether to move into the open source realm or not. That decision and the introspection that will follow will eventually help them sharpen their market focus.
