One of the major benefits of Free Software is that it allows you to take an existing product, customize it for a client, and deliver a customized solution for the same cost as a generic COTS application. DoD contractors would be stupid to pass up an opportunity to use Free Software to successfully compete against corporations many times their size.
Another funny thing about Free Software is that once you pay to have the software written you can use that software however you want. With COTS software if your project goes well, and you want to expand it to other departments you have to cough up a fat pile of money for licensing fees. With Free Software you just hand out CDs to the interested parties. That basically guarantees that successful Free Software projects spread like wildfire.
Open Source is currently a "trendy marketing buzzword," but tomorrow it could very well be the status quo. Free Software is already a huge factor in the software world, and the growth curves don't show any signs of flattening out. It's not just the DoD that is using Free Software either.
Learn about Linux
Download Linux
Get Linux help
Re:Article completely misses the point.
Posted by: jdearl on July 24, 2004 12:23 AMAnother funny thing about Free Software is that once you pay to have the software written you can use that software however you want. With COTS software if your project goes well, and you want to expand it to other departments you have to cough up a fat pile of money for licensing fees. With Free Software you just hand out CDs to the interested parties. That basically guarantees that successful Free Software projects spread like wildfire.
Open Source is currently a "trendy marketing buzzword," but tomorrow it could very well be the status quo. Free Software is already a huge factor in the software world, and the growth curves don't show any signs of flattening out. It's not just the DoD that is using Free Software either.
#