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REALITIES OF OPEN SOURCE
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Open source software (OSS) offers flexibility and
choice, but its implementation must be underpinned by firm
strategy and an acknowledgement of OSS realities.
 OSS
enjoys a strong focus from the South African government and the
State Information Technology Agency (SITA). It is also in use by
the US Federal Government in various departments, although
perhaps to a lesser extent.
But to many within both governments, OSS is still considered
experimental. Speaking at GovTech 2009, John Weathersby,
executive director of the Open Source Software Institute in the
USA highlighted the myths surrounding open source and how it
should be positioned within the broader technology stack.
Weathersby said that when it comes to ICT, and specifically the
use of OSS, the South African government is very similar to the
USA.
"The challenges in South Africa are the same as in the USA," he
said.
"You have citizens that need services from government and at the
end of the day it's not about technology, but about solutions,"
he added.
The proponents of both open source and proprietary software do
their technology an injustice by suggesting that it should be
used exclusively. However, as Weathersby pointed out, both ways
of licensing technology have their pros and cons.
"Open source brings some good things to the table. Open source
also has some liabilities. If you're a service provider, your
client is the end user and your job is to provide them a service
with the wisest use of limited resources," said Weathersby.
"Open source is just a way of licensing software."
However, Weathersby said that because of the open nature of OSS
and the fact that a codebase can be modified and adapted, it can
be used to develop strongly differentiated solutions.
"The great thing about open source is that it brings
competitiveness to the table," he explained.
But in using open source, Weathersby advised that technological
Darwinism be applied, whereby things that don't work are
abandoned in favour of better solutions.
"If a program doesn’t work, let it die," he said.
Turning to security, Weathersby said that OSS is commonly held
to be less secure than other forms of software, but that this is
simply not true. The community development of open source
bolsters its security, not the other way around.
He pointed out that some of the most secure organisations in the
world use open source, such as those working in defence in the
USA.
Weathersby provided examples in the US navy, Department of
Homeland Security and other government bodies in his country
that make use of OSS.
"The great thing about this is that they have developed
solutions that anyone else can use - it's open source. If you
wanted to use these technologies in South Africa, you could," he
stated.
But, Weathersby insisted, open source adoption must be driven by
clear agendas and an understanding of what is possible.
"Have realistic expectations of what you can do with open
source. It’s not a panacea and you must invest in it. You get
what you pay for. Seek collaboration and invest in your own
country."
If OSS is considered in context and the realities of what is
possible in its use are appreciated, it can be a powerful tool
and offer unique opportunities.
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