The Opensource Revolution is in full force.. and there will be no stopping it. For a time, opensource solutions weren’t up to the standard of their cost-based and licensed alternatives and this blogger thought that they wouldn’t catch up.. but with the creation of this blog that realisation has dawned And what a great realisation it is! Let’s have a look at some of the top players: 

• Web Servers – Apache
• Operating Systems – Linux
• CMS’s – WordPress, Joomla and Drupal
• Social Networking – Elgg
• Databases – MySql
• Programming – PHP
• Access to information – Wikipedia

Life is all about problems and solutions and those who provide the best, most cost-effective solutions (for the greater good) will always have the aid of evolution on their side. Opensource = zero cost + (in many cases) better solutions to some of the industry’s most intricate demands. I emphasise “for the greater good” here because people who implement ingenius web application solutions for a corrupt global bank that leads to an economic crisis is not ultimately benefiting the greater good, are they? Not that this particular thing happened but it illustrates how important it is to always try and see the bigger picture.

Opensource has become king because of it’s benefits to mankind.. and mankind has responded in like by supporting opensource’s causes. You really need to give this some thought: I mean, all of the above listed opensource tools are completely free and yet, I guarantee you, hundreds if not thousands of hours went into their development. I don’t know too much about the lives of the originial developers but I guarantee you they are being looked after by the mysterious forces that recognise this contribution to the greater good.

This principle is universal.. it applies to every aspect of life. It’s inherent power is immense and in my opinion often beyond our own understanding. Another name for it could be called servitude. The future of business will be based on this model. Massive corporations like Microsoft (who initially brought about much for the greater good) will have no choice but to bow to evolutionary forces and play the opensource game. As it stands, they are well placed in the global marketplace.. but the proliferation of the web means that new internet operating systems will emerge to take on the big guns.

Make no mistake about it, to be placed well for the future, in any area of business or your life you will have to contribute to the greater good. We cannot overcome some of the greatest challenges facing us without this mindset. In no particular order:

1. Clean water
2. Global warming
3. Massive deforestation
4. Abject poverty
5. Population management
6. Terrorism, Warfare
7. etc..