Run your business on FOSS
Download as PPT, PDF1 like1,006 views
The document discusses the advantages and features of free open source software (FOSS), detailing its definitions, market presence, and various applications. It highlights how FOSS competes with proprietary software, citing examples like content management systems and e-commerce platforms. Additionally, it presents real online business models that effectively utilize FOSS for income generation.
![Free?
• Free as in beer
• Gratis [Lat] = free of charge, zero price
• Many FOSS apps are free of charge, but not all
• Free as in speech
• Libre [Lat] = liberty, few or no restrictions on use
• Open Source licencing guarantees open access to source
• Open access to source = you control it, change whatever you want
• Free ≠ cheap and nasty
• FOSS apps compete with proprietary licenced apps
• FOSS apps have largest market share in many segments
• Proprietary apps often use FOSS code and components](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/runyourbusinessonfossslideshare20140507-140508022904-phpapp02/85/Run-your-business-on-FOSS-3-320.jpg)
Run your business on FOSS
- 1. Run your business on FOSS Russell Searle Principal Consultant, Psicom Melbourne Joomla! User Group 27 March 2013 Maroondah Business Association 7 May 2014
- 2. FOSS applications • FOSS = Free Open Source Software • A free open source business app: • Publicly offers at least one free edition or version • Publicly offers full source code for at least the free edition • Is licensed under an Open Source Initiative license • Established, reliable, powerful solutions • Well supported by very large global developer and user communities
- 3. Free? • Free as in beer • Gratis [Lat] = free of charge, zero price • Many FOSS apps are free of charge, but not all • Free as in speech • Libre [Lat] = liberty, few or no restrictions on use • Open Source licencing guarantees open access to source • Open access to source = you control it, change whatever you want • Free ≠ cheap and nasty • FOSS apps compete with proprietary licenced apps • FOSS apps have largest market share in many segments • Proprietary apps often use FOSS code and components
- 4. Web hosting package • Web administrator control panel • cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, Ajenti etc. • LAMP • Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP / Perl / Python • LAMP apps are FOSS by default • Groups of tools: • Email management • File management • Domain management • Security control • Administration • Package installers
- 5. Web hosting package installers • Commonly provided with most web hosting plans: • Fantastico • Softaculous • Installatron • Run from web hosting control panel (cPanel etc) • Package installers provide: • Rapid install, uninstall and version updates • Demos • Descriptions and links to product home site • Ratings and reviews
- 6. Softaculous applications • Blogs • Micro blogs • Portals/CMS • E-Commerce • ERP • Education • Forums • Image galleries • Wikis • Social networks • Ad management • Calendars • Games • Mail • Polls/surveys • Project management • Guest books • Customer service • Music • Video • RSS • File managers • Other • Frameworks
- 8. A few examples • Content Management Systems (CMS) • WordPress powers 22% of all web domains (by some counts) • Joomla! runs 3.1% of all sites, Drupal runs 1.9% of all sites • e-Commerce / Shopping carts • Magento, VirtueMart, OpenCart, many others • Customer Relationship Management systems (CRM) • SaaS (subscription model) and proprietary vendors dominate • Worthy FOSS contenders: Sugar, CiviCRM, X2CRM, Zurmo, vTiger • Business systems (ERP) • Proprietary vendors dominate by inertia and default • Many worthy FOSS contenders: OpenERP, OFBiz, WebERP, FrontAccounting, allocPSA etc
- 9. Real online FOSS businesses • Blogs / e-books / vlogs / podcasts • Direct and/or indirect income • e-Commerce / online shops • Directories • Social media / communities / membership • Auctions / trading • Job boards • News / media / digital distribution / internet radio • e-learning • Gaming / hobbies • Specialty publishing / art galleries
- 10. Q&A