Open source software

rsw · 12 Feb 2008, 17:48

This post got me thinking, and was wondering who here uses open source software? and why?

Personally I try to use it for whatever I can.

At home i use firefox, thunderbird, openoffice, notepad++, filezilla, nvu to name a few.
My website is based on wordpress, again an opensource project. I can understand why people use programs such as autocad, ms office in business, but for personal use I am yet to find anything missing from the above open source programs that I actually need.

Not only does it save me money, but most of them provide the same if not better functionality than their paid for counterparts.

do you use o.s. software?
if not why not??

Krisidious · 12 Feb 2008, 17:50

I use NVU... FileZilla too

I.E. is somewhat open source.

some Google coded stuff... somewhat free...

I just find that when you buy something you get support and someone that will be there years down the road... where as open source stuff dies out after a bit... and it also seems like a never ending bug fest.

when Companies like Google buy them up I tend to look closer and use more.

and then there is the king of all open source codes... HTML

rsw · 12 Feb 2008, 17:51

ie is sort of opensource? point me in the direction where i can download the source code...

If you go for the bigger open source programs, major bugs should be minimal, as there should be plenty of people to beta test code before final release, which in theory should find most major bugs.

whats to stop you buying software and then finding the company goes bust, and there is no chance of support for their software? at least with open source software someone else could pick up the code a fix the problems. besides the most popular software is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

if you'll tend to look closer at programs when companies like Google buy them up, why not use openoffice, its well established and backed by a major company, seems a good reason to try it...

Krisidious · 12 Feb 2008, 17:51

I downloaded openoffice, but it seemd they want you to pay to use it full, and I didn't much care for the UI, plus I already owned MSO 2003 so no use changing.

IE has several ways to code it.

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?guid=cbc08d5f-6643-4225-82ae-acd763675f34 on the left you'll see the list of components they let you mess with.

just do a search for the IE SDK

I mostly buy bigger names... MS, AutoDesk, Adobe...
never known one to go out of business.

rsw · 12 Feb 2008, 17:54

@krisidious said:

just do a search for the IE SDK

not open source though as far as I can see (free maybe, but not open source)

Its a shame we end up stuck with windows, because of the need to use software which is windows only.

Good to see opensource software being used. do any of you use it in a professional capacity or do you just use it for home use?

Krisidious · 12 Feb 2008, 17:54

well open source means you can work on the coding... so it is open source. there are only a few security features you can't access... so what's not open about it?

rsw · 12 Feb 2008, 17:54

must be going blind, as i can't even see a download link for the ie sdk (i know its there somewhere though...)

Krisidious · 12 Feb 2008, 17:55

you have to apply for it just like SU, sign a waiver or whatever... for the big one...

but I think you can download all the small section ones with out the hoops... like Java and ASP and ActiveX.