Open Source Technologies

"Open Source technology is deep, cheap, easy to put together, and easy to maintain. Welcome to the future of the internet."

Not too long ago, Internet technology was completely in the hands of developers, designers and programmers. Under the old school system, construction of a website worked like this:

1. A programmer would create static html pages, or else build a content management system that was not easy for clients to administer.
2. A graphic designer would then create a mock-up of the interface (Photoshop file), based on client specs.
3. The programmer would then create a 'skin', using the designer's image file as a visual guide.
4. The programmer scores a job for life, because the client will always need them, to further develop the site. Who wants to be held hostage by a design company in order for their online presence to be succesful?
   

Problems with custom coded solutions

• Increased risk of bugs: Writing code is inherently risky. Bugs, technical problems, cost and time overruns are common. Taking a completely custom route greatly increases the amount of development required. Remember there are a ton of web browsers out there, each with their own problems.
  
• Longer project duration: without the ability to exploit out-of-the-box capabilities, custom-developed solutions may often require greater time and effort. The point is to make money not spend it with little return.
  
• The solution is stationary: custom developed solutions are set in stone – they don’t move unless additional money is spent on a web design firm.. Meanwhile, the internet and your competiton continue to innovate, eventually outstripping the custom solution. In leas than a year you would most likely have to start all over from scratch...AGAIN!
  

The advantages of Open Source solutions

• Built-in core functions: Open Source solutions provide built-in ‘core’ functionality (such as security, workflow, or content publishing).
• Free upgrades and bug fixes: Open Source equals shared knowledge. With globally popular systems like the Joomla Content Management system you can be sure that a large community of developers and end users will constantly be updating and/or fixing software.
  
• Shared knowledge: who needs a programmer, when the Joomla user community numbers several million, worldwide? Chance are if you have a problem the solution can be found online.
  
• Thousands of developers,  with years of development: today, the top Open Source solutions on the market boast years of development by thousands of the top programmers on the planet. Given such pure development depth, hiring a single person to make sure your site is efficeint and effective is pure disaster!
  

Conclusion