The battle about whether open source is a threat to the software industry wages on and the Network World article “Is Open Source Just for Tools And A Threat To American Software?” brings this argument to light again.  The author of this article Alan Shimel refers to an article on The Street by Dana Blankenhorn that basically says that Open Source is not a threat and that it is used mainly only for tools.  Though Shimel agrees that Open Source tools are handy he wholeheartedly disagrees that Open Source is merely a tool.  He points out the fact that there are plenty of Open Source apps that not only has he used, but others are readily using.  The author brings up the next question about whether Open Source can truly be considered a threat to American software companies.

Shimel says:

If we choose to ignore it, I can assure you that the rest of the world will not. Open source as a model is well established. If it is in fact a threat to American software companies, then they need to out innovate, out produce and exceed the quality of what is coming from open source. You are not going to stop the tide of open source adoption.

Companies such as LucidWorks that use Open Source demonstrate that not only is the technology made up more than just tools, but also is a legitimate contender in the software world.  As with anything else the American software technology world continues to grow and expand and so does Open Source.  Everyone must learn to adapt.  Open Source is not going anywhere so the author states the simple truth when he says, “if you can’t beat them join them.”

April Holmes, September 20, 2012

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