Examples of some Open Source Softwares Essay

An Application Programming Interface (API) – is an interface that is implemented by a software program for interaction with other software. API is used by applications, libraries and operating systems to determine the vocabulary and calling conventions. (www.opensource.org).
The programmer should employ it to use their services: specifications for routines, data structures, object classes, and protocols used to communicate between the consumer and implementer of the API (www.opensource.org).
The main difficulties of operating of API are:
– the complexity of porting code from one system to another API (for example, when changing the OS);
– the loss of functionality during the transition from a lower level to higher: each API is created to facilitate the implementation of a standard set of operations. But it is really difficult, or is fundamentally impossible to carry out some other operations, which provides a lower level of API.
Android – is an operating system for mobile phones based on the kernel Linux. Originally was developed by Android Inc., which then was bought by Google. Subsequently, Google has initiated an Open Handset Alliance (OHA), which is now to support and further development of the platform. Android allows you to create Java-based applications that control the device through the Google designed a library. It is also possible to write applications in C and other programming languages using Android Native Development Kit.
Google Wave – an experimental universal means of communication, as well as created for this technology and software developed by Google. Google Wave is designed to combine the functions of an e-mail, instant messaging, chat, web forum, wiki, collaborative creation and editing of documents with version control system and social networking. Google Wave technology involves open protocols and software (licensed under Apache Software License), which allows you to deploy their own servers, Google Wave as connected and synchronized, and are not connected to the servers Google. In the second case, the communication between users of a local installation will not be transferred to the external network. Google Wave platform is integrated with other developments of Google, for example: search, maps, videos, and other projects, like Twitter.
LAMP – an acronym denoting a set of server software that is widely used in World Wide Web. LAMP is named first letters of its constituent components: Linux – the operating system GNU / Linux; Apache – Web server; MySQL – DBMS; PHP – a programming language used to create Web applications. Although initially these software products not specifically designed to work with each other, this bunch has become very popular, primarily because of its low cost (and all its components are open and can be downloaded free of charge from the web). A set of LAMP is a part of the majority of GNU / Linux distributions and is provided by many hosting companies.
Also there are examples of content management open sources, like: Joomla, Drupal and World press. Joomla! – is content management system written in PHP and JavaScript, used as a storage database MySQL. It is free software, distributed under the GNU GPL. Drupal – is a content management system (CMS), written in PHP and using as a data warehouse relational database (supported by MySQL, PostgreSQL and others). Drupal is free software, protected license GPL, and promote efforts of enthusiasts from all over the world.
Open Source has many advantages over commercial. The first and most obvious – the majority of open source programs is free, but completely legal. User accepts the GPL – General Public License, the only limitation which is that any changes made by the user program must be provided to community on the same free terms.
GPL gives users the freedom to:
– freedom to run the program for any purpose;
– freedom to study the principles of programming;
– freedom to modify programs;
– freedom to redistribute copies;
– freedom to improve the program and release improvements to public access.
All users of modified versions of programs have the same rights to their study, modification and distribution.
Unlike the GPL, license commercial software is very rarely give users such rights and usually, by contrast, tend to be limited.
Commercial software developers jealously guard the secrets of their decisions and do not reveal any internal architecture, or data presentation formats, or interfaces. Thus the most serious shortcoming of commercial solutions is their monolithic, almost all of them are distributed in the form of large “bundles”, which include all the necessary components to work. Replace a separate component, such as modifying it – it is impossible, the ability to integrate with products from other companies or replacement of modules on third-party also almost never provided. Meanwhile, using standard software is not always possible to effectively solve some specific problems.
Open Source, unlike the commercial, is built on a modular principle, so that any program is assembled from individual components and all its components are documented and open, as the interfaces between them. Developers of open source software is no secrets, they do not have anything to hide, to keep profits, so they do not invent their closed data formats or programming interfaces, and use those which are international standard. This is another distinct advantage Open Source over the closed commercial software. You can easily integrate applications from different developers, to replace individual components of programs. Any qualified IT technician can assemble a solution that is perfectly adapted to the individual needs of a particular organization.
Another advantage of open source software – is higher than that of proprietary software, security, reliability and stability. Open source code can be easily analyzed to verify its correctness and the absence of undocumented features – various “tabs”, “backdoor”, deliberately left the programmer to bypass the protection and the like. Computers running Linux, are insensitive to almost all known types of viruses.
The open source software has other advantages, not less significant than those listed above:
1. Open source software is tested and improved faster than the closed commercial. The rate of reaction of developers to the need to change appreciably higher, mistakes are detected and eliminated as soon as possible, updates are released more quickly.
2. The availability of software code, open system, you can always refer to support their own IT specialist. Companies that use it, do not face the problem of attachment to a contractor and failure to promptly fix the problems of implementation, it will not depend on the policy and technical support of foreign vendors.
3. Today, the world of Open Source products includes practically all the necessary components for automatic control of all business processes: server solutions, desktop systems, specialized business applications.

 
Works cited

William T. Verts. “Open source software”. World Book Online Reference Center. Web. Retrieved 2010-04-30
http://www.opensource.org/osl.php.
Ian Lance Taylor. “Choosing an Open Source License”. 2005. Web. Retrieved 2010-04-30
L. Angelis. “Code Quality Analysis in Open Source Software Development”. Information Systems Journal, vol.12, no 1, 2002.