Use the source

Taking advantage of Open Source is the future for homebrew programmers and smart consumers.

By: Vineet Tiruvadi

Posted: 6/23/08

On too many occasions I've found myself staring dumbfounded at my computer screen, wondering "what's going on in there?" Despite the steadily raising computer savvy in today's high tech populace, many software companies still believe it best to not burden our pretty little heads with what exactly they're doing on our machines. The Open Source paradigm seeks to do away with the black box mentality and replace it with a more transparent and open environment, providing each of us with the digital experience best suited to our demands.

As computers approach ubiquity, issues of software freedom, flexibility and security shift from the deep recesses of geeky interest into the forefront of digital issues. Recent social and business trends lean heavily on software or web based solutions making it more relevant than ever to maintain a transparent, flexible and robust digital landscape, especially for those that once considered themselves unaffected by the esoteric world of computer science.

In the simplest sense, the differences between Open Source software and other more closed options lie in the attitude towards the user. Open Source, as the name suggests, has no qualms with allowing us, the user, to see how the program was created and even encourages us to "improve it" should we be so inclined. The alternative, that we are all familiar with, provides us with a black-box product that we must either learn to love or be comfortable in loathing. Microsoft, with its flagship Windows Vista, proves to be an excellent example in how it pushes it's fairly underwhelming Vista onto consumers despite being unappealing. The message is tantamount to "get over it."

Enter Open Source. The Open Source landscape resembles a microcosm of the ecosystem. Software appealing to the user base flourishes and even evolves into a better product while those that underwhelm are left by the wayside. What you get out of the Open Source scene is a large variety of products that are able to suit the gamut of users, from e-socialites and music hermits to the more involved programmers and e-business moguls. For example, if all the available music software rubs you the wrong way, there's nothing stopping you from tailoring one to your vision.

Obviously we're not all inclined to roll up our sleeves and wrestle with daunting computer code. The key message is that the Open Source landscape doesn't expect to hide anything from the user. If you want to find out exactly what a program is doing on your computer, it's a simple matter of looking at the code (or searching online for someone else who had the patience). If you don't like the way an internet browser renders your computer into a lame duck then you switch to one that works. If you have a brilliant idea then you can build on the foundation work of others, instead of being forced to abandon your idea to paper. It's all laid bare, constantly changing and becoming streamlined.

The picture painted here is obviously a bit rosy. The adoption of Open Source software into everyday life is a nuanced and contentious issue but it's an issue that must be brought up. Particularly problematic issues lie in standardization, commercial viability and security. Providing anyone with the ability to see and edit your program necessarily leads to issues of cross-compatibility, being able to sell your software and being able to provide security to your consumers. But the benefits of open source, especially for a steadily more computer knowledgeable generation, far outweigh the growing pains as well as the nuisance of being at the mercy of Big Software.

Open Source represents the next step in the digital world toward more information freedom and openness. It's in our best interests, as consumers, to take a vested interest in how we work and also how we play. Many see Open Source as the stuff of pipedreams but the latest movements by governments, businesses and even our own university (tamu email uses Zimbra, an open source email server) show the shifting tide. The longevity and successes of Linux and OpenOffice demonstrate the Open Source paradigm's position as a viable and prominent alternative to the old way and it's time we embrace it.