pen source software is shaping the face of technology and security. Whether for business or pleasure, you probably use open source applications and may not even realize it. But what makes this approach to software development and distribution unique?

Open source is distributed on the Internet, and it's entirely free. There are no strings attached and no gimmicks. Licenses require developers and modifiers to make it available at no charge.

www.sourceforge.net, for example, is a large open source software development Web site that hosts more than 100,000 projects and has over 1 million registered users.

The 'source' in open source

Open source begins with a source code, which is a set of instructions translated into machine language and comprised of programs that we know and use. Software developers typically build applications using source code in languages such as C++, Java or PHP.

Developers then use a compiler to translate this source code into an application that can be executed on a POS terminal, a cell phone or even a PC. These devices understand the machine-level instructions and can perform the tasks requested.

The open source model has resulted in the creation of many powerful software applications. Once open source applications are created, they have a license. The license requires developers to publish any changes that they made to the source code so that project managers can integrate new features into the main product.

This process creates a vicious cycle. Developers modify the source code and release it; other developers make changes to that version and release those changes, and so on. Popular projects often result in highly (and quickly) developed applications.

For example, you might be familiar with well-knownopen source projects such as Firefox, a Web browser from Mozilla, and Linux, an operating system that's challenging Microsoft Corp.'s Windows.

How is open source available for free?

The open source model works well for those who reap the benefits for free, but what about the companies or individuals who first start these programs? Somewhere, someone has to make a buck, right?

Depending on the business model and marketplace, some do very well or very poorly. Most business models concerning open source software are designed to make money by providing services related to it. This creates a huge opportunity for small businesses that want to take advantage of enterprise-level software by customizing it to fit their market's needs. Some of the services offered, include:

• Customization services. If an open source application handles only 80% of what customers want, open source creators might charge them a customization fee to adapt the product to fit their needs.
• Consulting services. The project managers who developed the software usually have a high level of expertise that the products' users deem valuable. Therefore, the project managers will offer their consulting services for support and training.
• Embedded products. In past articles I've mentioned Linksys wireless routers. The routers run on Linux, an open source operating system. Many other commercial products also include open source modules. Another example is MacOS X, which is based on the open source UNIX BSD platform.

Are there security risks?

Some users are concerned that open source is susceptible to viruses, worms or hackers. The software's accessibility makes it possible for unscrupulous individuals to find and exploit any bugs or other vulnerabilities. On the other hand, any problems can quickly be fixed because hundreds of developers view and use open source.

The Harvard Business Review published an article titled "Collaboration Rules" on this very topic in its July-August 2005 issue. The article describes how a university discovered a major security breach on one of its Linux servers. In less than 30 hours, 20 developers around the world (who did not know each other) put their heads together to create, test and implement a security patch, which they also made public.

Take advantage of open source projects

Open source software can be leveraged in several different ways. For example, in my article, "Serving Your Office" (The Green Sheet, Dec. 26, 2005, issue 05:12:02), I described the open source product ClarkConnect, a low-cost office server that uses an older computer and can handle up to 20 different users.

Another example: Linksys' wireless access points run Linux along with several other open source packages. Because this source code is covered under the General Public License, Linksys has published the source code on its Web site. And finally, Internet Explorer (IE) had some problems that Microsoft wasn't addressing (e.g., rampant pop-up ads and invasive spyware). Mozilla worked to streamline its own source code to address these issues and released what is known today as Firefox. A very large community now makes regular contributions to Firefox's source code, which continues to rival IE.

If you aren't already using an open source program, here are a few to start with:

• Apache: a powerful Web server used on much of the Internet
  httpd.apache.org
• Linspir: a simple Linux operating system and a good replacement for Microsoft Windows
  www.linspire.com/
• MySQL: a powerful database that serves as a backend for many popular Web applications, including Yahoo! Finance
  www.mysql.com
• Nvu: a Web site editor and publishing tool
  www.nvu.com
• Open Office: a good replacement for Microsoft Office
  www.openoffice.org
• PhpBB: bulletin board software that many Web sites use, including The Green Sheet's GS Online MLS Forum
  www.phpbb.com
• Thunderbird: an e-mail reader
  www.mozilla.com/thunderbird.

If you use any of these open source products or others, I would love to hear from you.

Joel Rydbeck, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nubrek Inc., brings his strong background in e-commerce and business process automation to the merchant services industry. Nubrek offers eISO, a Web application for ISOs that tracks leads and provides automated residual and commission reports. For more information on eISO, or to view a free demo, visit www.nubrek.com/eiso.html . E-mail Rydbeck at joel@nubrek.com .