ZDNet/Gartner: A Linux Open Source Best Practices Guide: Applications

“A disciplined and carefully considered best practices process
is essential to delivering maximum returns and benefits from Linux
and open source application deployments. The fact that open source
software (OSS) and Linux standards compliance are still in an early
phase of maturity will require active vigilance and engagement on
the part of the IS organization in the open source development and
deployment process. Through year-end 2005, 70 percent of large
enterprises will neglect to implement formal corporate guidelines
and best practices applied to Linux and open source (0.7
probability). Without such practices, 90 percent of these
enterprises will unknowingly have deployed some poorly documented,
‘unauthorized’ systems running open source code or combinations of
OSS and commercial code (0.7 probability).

“Linux and open source integration will demand new processes in
the overall development, deployment, maintenance, and support of IT
infrastructures. These processes can have beneficial or negative
consequences. Without implementing a rigorous best practices
approach, IT investment could escalate to higher, unanticipated
costs. This framework is an initial view by Gartner into some of
the major focal points that CIOs, architectural planning managers,
and project developers need to consider in applying discipline to
the hybridization of commercial and open source system
design…”

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