Information technology leaders in verticals ranging from scientific research to manufacturing are leveraging the advantages of open-source software (OSS) to reduce programming costs, increase efficiencies and spur innovation.
Proponents of the OSS movement predict OSS is the future of programming. By providing access to the distributed software source code — the instructions that tell the program what to do — users can rewrite it to add functionality, customize it to suit particular needs and fix errors.
The GNU/Linux operating system, Mozilla Firefox web browser, SugarCRM customer management and LibreOffice productivity software are recognizable names that provide programmers free access to their OSS.
While most OSS is distributed at no cost, some developers charge subscription fees. In either case, the source code is included, and there are no licensing fees, so organizations can use the software throughout the enterprise without paying for individual users’ access.
Organizations are adopting OSS to take advantage of those benefits so quickly that the demand for professionals with advanced insights and expertise in programming, file structure and data manipulation far outstrips the supply.
The talent shortage is particularly acute in the small-to-medium-sized business sector, according to TechRadar, which reports “an overwhelming number of hiring managers (92%) no’te that sufficient talent with open source skills is difficult to come by.”
Why Are IT Leaders Flocking to OSS?
In addition to reducing costs, OSS enables organizations to rewrite programs, simplifying integration with legacy software. That flexibility permits enterprises to adopt it more quickly than code-protected proprietary software.
The global OSS community also shares code improvements, allowing users immediate access. OpenSource.com lists several specific OSS benefits critical to companies as they accelerate their digital transformations. Those benefits include:
- Stability. Access to the OSS community ensures programmers always have optimized source code rather than wait for proprietary software vendors to release updates.
- Security. Because the open code is always available, users can test for vulnerabilities and bugs and identify and fix them immediately to keep digital assets safe from unauthorized access.
- Collaboration. Users have access to a global pool of knowledge, which can be invaluable when troubleshooting, fixing, updating and upgrading.
Measuring the adoption of any “technology type is how many people expanded their use of that technology type in the past year. Our survey found that 77% increased the use of OSS in the past year, with 36% reporting that they increased use significantly,” according to OpenLogic, an OSS support provider.
What Role Does OSS Play Across the Programming Landscape?
IT leaders in the public and private sectors are adopting OSS to realize the flexibility, efficiency and cost-saving benefits. Open-source software is widely used in:
- Science. Open programs enable scientists and researchers to rewrite code to create networks for sharing work and results.
- Education. School management open software customized to integrate education needs streamlines communication among students, parents, teachers and administrators.
- Government. Governments at all levels use OSS to connect departments and agencies and create development communities to realize the greatest returns for their citizens and governments.
- Manufacturing. OSS supports innovation by engaging employees, management and leadership in bottom-up initiatives with the potential to optimize production processes.
- Health. During the COVID-19 outbreak, governments, scientists and researchers deployed OSS solutions to track, identify and attempt to stop the virus’ spread.
- Enterprise resource planning. OSS provides organizations with more options and greater control than proprietary ERP software.
“Never before has open innovation been as much a part of software development as it is today. Open source software has become central to IT strategies, influencing every layer of the software stack, from operating systems and programming languages to middleware and development tools,” according to the organizational consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
How Do Professionals Gain OSS-Related Expertise and Skills?
Graduates of the online Master of Science (M.S.) in Information Science program offered by Texas A&M International University are equipped to compete in OSS development through studies in:
- Information Systems and Programming
- Advanced Programming
- Networks and Distributed Systems
- Database Management and Design
- Project Design and Management
The accredited program focuses on advanced problem-solving, programming sophisticated data-intensive applications and file structures and organizational management.
Learn more about Texas A&M International University’s online M.S. in Information Science.
