Open Source software

In my previous blogs I have discussed the evolution of the internet from being merely an information source to becoming a business tool, a social networking tool, an international networking and relations tool, its evolution from a hobby to a career builder, the produsage effect translating to television and now the production of software itself via the internet. I suppose it is only natural to progress from consumer- produced content to consumer-produced software, and discuss the step-up of the consumers role in the evolution of the internet and now consequently software itself. However with another new internet-led phenomenon, one must ask- is this really produsage in a more large scale action or is it just an excuse and opportunity for IT students and technology interested folks worldwide to experiment with existing software structures?

The phenomenon in question is in fact labelled as Open Source Software. The differences between closed source and open source software are mainly the confidentiality surrounding closed source software produced by large companies such as Microsoft which operate the development of software as a structured business in relation and opposition to the free and open knowledge of open source software which is in fact developed by volunteers and teams in the community rather than paid employees. Anyone can see, use or even edit open source software to create their own form of software to suit themselves and fix withstanding problems of the software in opposition to developmental goals which are set by software companies. In essence, the difference between closed source software and open source software is merely software production versus software produsage.

But is open source software really produsage for the greater good of the community in general or is it more or less just for IT students looking for ways to brush up on their ‘sweet skills’ and developing software in a more experimental way than what would be allowed by the software company? I guess that in the case of software and the internet, the motivation behind the technology is not of real importance but the outcome of the experiments. Probably the greatest benefit for the production of open source software is the fact that changes are being produced by consumers themselves. Produsers who are participating at their own free will in the direction they choose, also for their own consequential benefit, the subsequent software is bound to be of benefit to the entire community rather than an exploitation. It is also possible that the software will be developed faster and a larger range of solutions will be developed through having a large number of consumers contributing to the software’s development. Possibly the greatest benefit of open source software is the fact that it will always be evolving and being bettered by those who are interested in creating something better and more interesting, as produsers will easily and quickly spot the flaws in their own designs once using their own product, once again proving the benefits of open source software in relation to closed source software, and that the benefits far outweigh the concern behind any motivation the produsers might have to make their product perform and work the way they intend it to.