Introduction to open source software

Many nonprofit organizations that have previously relied almost entirely on closed commercial software in their organizations are now considering the “open source” alternative. Open Source refers to software distributed with the condition that anyone using it must have access to both the program and the source code. Being able to see the source code is what makes it "open". The source code is analogous to the original blue print of the house which shows exactly how the program works. Having the source code is important allows you to customize and improve your computer program to your liking. This is unlike closed, proprietary software which keeps its source code secret from users. When you buy closed source software, you can't change it.

The open source model is proving to be a revolutionary development because it makes it easier for software designers to build on the work of others. As a result, the quality of open source software (OSS) has steadily improved so that in many cases open source software products rival or exceed the performance of their proprietary or commercial counterparts. Although the true cost of software is more than its initial purchase price, the fact that OSS is freely available, and freely upgradeable, along with other characteristics (security, stability, access to source code for customization, and the absence of marketing gimmicks in the software) have led to its recent popularity.

The for-profit and academic sectors have long recognized that OSS can be more secure, stable and cost-effective. This explains why they have adopted OSS in larger and larger numbers, particularly for network and web servers. Today OSS is also gaining acceptance for use on individual desktop computers.

This development is significant for charitable organizations. While in the 1980s and 1990s most small-to-medium sized nonprofits managed to get by with donated, “borrowed,” and 5-year-old copies of software products, new approaches to licensing and copy protection are bringing an end to the era of "free" proprietary software. Microsoft, for example, is requiring that every product installed on every machine require a unique install key. Some companies do away with even this approach, replacing software as a product with a new model of software as a service. Under this model, software customers will have to pay annual fees, thus removing the cost-saving option of using older versions of software.

Given these trends, it is easy to see why nonprofits are finding the community model of software development to be appealing. Social justice nonprofits have always struggled to build diverse coalitions based on shared resources and a commitment to strengthen the entire movement, rather than enriching an individual or single organization. Community development groups strongly advocate on behalf of community ownership of resources and property. The concept of community has always been of real importance to nonprofits seeking to build genuine relationships with the individuals and groups with which they work. The proliferation of small, special-interest nonprofits attests to the belief that one size does not fit all – every community and issue is different and requires new and original solutions.

In this primer, we examine how open source software is developed, how its costs and benefits are evaluated, how several nonprofits are using it today, and how you can take concrete steps to advance it in your organization. We also offer ideas on how to further advance the applicability of OSS to the nonprofit sector.