In a normal setting, something is referred to as open source when access to and redistribution of such product or commodity is free and can be done by anybody. Software, therefore, is categorized as open source when after being built, its code is published and made available in the public domain for use and redistribution and even modification by anybody without having to seek permission from any authority. Producers of open source software can be either individuals or a group of programmers who do communal codes and later emerge into large open source companies (Gasperson, 2007).
Adoption of open source applications has been on at the peak in the recent past, and more so with the experienced advancement in technology. Not only by small companies and individuals, but also in well renowned companies. Research, however, indicates that as much as many companies are adopting and using open source applications, almost all of them are still reluctant to replace them with the commercial applications. Following these research and other factors, I also support the notion that open source applications, like MySQL and PostgreSQL will not dominate the field of database management, at least not any soon (Toderash, 2007).
Reasons to support this stand have been given by many people, ranging from the cost issues to efficiency and effectiveness in their application. The main argument I will give to support my stand is the reliability issues. Most companies have failed to gain full confidence in the open source software, hence have not given them full trust to be used in the critical activities that directly impact the well being and progress of the company towards achieving its goal and objectives. This, therefore, is an indicator that for as long as the companies still have doubts over the reliability of the open source software, their chances of replacing them with the commercial software is almost at zero level.
Another major reason behind this reluctance has issues to do with migration. Most companies have taken roots in the use of the commercial database management software like Microsoft SQL, Java and Oracle, integrating them with other systems that make migration almost impossible. Migrating from such to the open source software may mean loss of so much data, upon which t he companies’ success lies and which has cost them much to acquire that they cannot stand to lose them. But I stand to argue that impossibility in migration is at most instances given by companies as a vague reason to cover their loyalty to the commercial software. This is more so true after technology to facilitate easier and faster migration without loss of data emerged and yet no companies have been heard to have migrated to the open source software those they so utilize in making their services faster and efficient (Toderash, 2007).
In the development process and later use, open source software developers are known for their tendency to only support just one database platform, with the hope of incorporating others with time. This has been termed as immaturity in development by companies that need a whole suite immediately to start off their activities that they often call urgent and wanting. This issue has both cost and application limitations, full development will mean some more time and costs, as well as more training for the staff on the platforms to be incorporated later. It also means use of much software at a time, awaiting the other to be developed fully, the more reason commercial software is used persistently despite the costs (Prince, 2008).
As concerns open source software, the database features that come with them lack originality. They usually appear as a reinvention of frameworks that are already in existence and better worse even the codes are sometimes edited to suit the issues to be addressed. This makes most companies lack trust in use of such as concerns security and integration with other systems that are using more complex software.
Marketplace trends have also been a major hindrance to full adoption and use of open source software as the only and main application in the company. Against the wishes and preferences of the staff, companies take much consideration in what their counterparts are doing as far as software adoption and application is concerned. This has much to do with the integration of systems which may be required later and in bid to curb the platform limitation issues (Asay, 2007).
Research also indicates that most companies use open source software to avoid investing much in the licenses associated with commercial software. They, however, remain loyal to the commercial software vendors like Oracle and Microsoft that seem to be making no advances in their technologies, abandoning the open source software that keep improving on their technology, maybe to attract more users. It’s hard to comprehend why a company could choose to pay so much for an application that is rarely improved as opposed to use and adoption of free improved software. Reasons of reliability may be given, but the fact that the very companies questioning reliability of the open source software are busy utilizing them to facilitate service delivery beats logic.
All said the fact that open source software may never replace the commercial software remains. Maybe or maybe not this may change, but there is still no hope of a full migration to the open source software, at least not by the companies that have clearly shown their loyalty to Microsoft and Oracle, among other commercial software vendors (Asay, 2007).
References
Berkeley.edu. (n.d.). Selecting your database platform. http://dbaservices.berkeley.edu/services/selecting_a_platform.
Prince, B. (2008). Open-source databases MySQL, PostgreSQL, adoption rising. Retrieved from http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Database/Open-Source-Database-Adoption-Upswing-Continues/
Gasperson, T. (2007) Five compelling reasons to use MySQL. CIO Magazine. http://www.cio.com/article/113110/Five_Compelling_Reasons_to_Use_MySQL
Toderash, B. (2007) Eight sound reasons not to use MySQL. CIO Magazine. http://www.cio.com/article/113111/Eight_Sound_Reasons_Not_to_Use_MySQL
Asay, M. (2007). Why choose proprietary software over open source? Survey says!. CNet News, Retrieved from http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9789275-16.html
