Why Open Source CMS is Important

The Web Managers Roundtable is presenting Open Source Content Management Systems: Panacea or Pandora’s
Box? A Critical Evaluation of Open Source Content Management &
Lessons Learned from WhiteHouse.gov’s Open Source Initiative on
April 25th. Event
Summary

Disclosure –
Julie, who runs the WMR has been a protégé for over 15 years, and Tony
Byrne, the moderator, is a friend and teacher who started CMS Watch.

This
morning, Julie asked me, “Why is Open Source important?”

Open
Source is a major software development paradigm. Strengths are most code
comes from adapting already proven modules of code, which speeds
development and that code can be developed by large groups of interested
coders communicating over the internet. It’s a flat management model,
where the people driving the projects are usually the best coders.

Problems
are that the average code is not that good. However, you don’t use the
average code, you use the best code for your project, so open source is
known for high quality, rapidly improving products.

Having
abundant excellent code has changed the software business model. Why and
how code is purchased is changing. My key observation is it is not the
cost, but how well the software supports the customer and mission that
is the big advantage. It takes a while, but once a customer organization
realizes there is no one to blame, they get focused on getting what
they want.

When code is no longer scarce, how do you build a your
business? This reuse of proven parts is not limited to software, but
that is where is started. Makers,
a near future business fantasy by Cory Doctorow, extends open source
management to manufacturing and design, medicine, communication, and
other industry verticals. Makers is
a great book.

Open source software is already the plumbing of
the internet. It is a key advantage for many billion
dollar businesses.

Understanding the state of open source
content management systems is a key to future-proofing your web
presence.

Comments, Ideas, Observations?