Open Source - Opens Doors

I must admit that this is a great write-up covering the benefits of Open Source software. Most all of the positives are being covered here. Take a look for yourself.

Early in my GIS career, I wanted to produce digital maps at home. Of course, I couldn’t use tools I had access to at work due to licensing and cost restrictions. This led me to investigate open source GIS and mapping alternatives. I dove in and never looked back.

In fact, what began as a hobby has become a strategic resource in my consultancy work. I am bringing open source tools into the corporate enterprise to replace or augment proprietary tools. It is rather ironic that proprietary licensing pushed me to find alternatives and that these alternatives are, in turn, supplanting the proprietary.

The benefits of open source are a stark contrast to closed source options, particularly in the high-priced world of GIS software. The following is a general overview of some positive benefits of open source software.

What Is Open Source GIS?
Open source software refers to software projects that have the programming source code openly available for others to use. It is free to use and customise, and is generally unrestricted in its application.

Think of your favourite GIS and mapping programs for desktop analysis, web-based mapping, command line data conversion and geospatial application programming. Then consider what it would be like to have complete freedom to distribute and customise those tools, with no licensing fees. Would it be encouraging, profitable and maybe even fun? For me it was all three and more. Open source software reminded me of why I studied GIS in the first place: to investigate the world around me, for business or for pleasure.

Open source GIS and mapping projects are akin to thousands of other open source software projects, such as those hosted by SourceForge. The principles they hold to are summed up well by the Open Source Initiative. Their site provides in-depth articles and discussions about open source software. [Read the rest]