GartnerGroup: Debunking Open-Source Myths: Origins and Players

“While the hype that surrounds specific products like Linux
soars, many other open-source efforts are shrouded in myth and
mystery. We perform a reality check on the origins of, and the
current players associated with, OSS….“

“Myth 1: Open-source development is a new fad. Freely available
and extendible software has existed for many years and in many
forms. In particular, creating and sharing software was synonymous
with the development of Unix. The decision by AT&T to
commercialize Unix in 1984 prompted the first attempt to organize
the concept of free software (“free” as in freedom, not free of
charge) around a license and a development project (see Note 2).
The Internet infrastructure itself is the result of open-source
efforts, both in terms of the protocols and standards that emerged
from IETF’s “open house” processes and of the vital software
servers for e-mail, Web-serving and name resolution….”

“Myth 2: OSS products cost nothing. There are two separate cost
issues. The first concern is acquisition costs. Although an OSS
product is typically downloadable free of charge, it can also be
sold and distributed for a charge. For example, with Red Hat, Linux
can be downloaded free of charge, although Red Hat also sells it
under various pricing schemes. What the user pays for in the latter
case is not the right to use the software, but for accountability
and support from the vendor. Another important but frequently
overlooked issue with the cost of “free” software is that the price
of acquisition is a fraction of the product’s TCO. Deployment,
training, support and decommissioning costs must be factored into
any total cost formula….”

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