Succeeding with Open Source

Executive Summary

With this chapter, we begin assessing the individual elements of the complete open source product—and we begin with the most critical element of all, the code itself. Source code forms the core of the entire product, so it makes sense to begin the assessment process there.

One of the great benefits of the open source product is the availability of the source code itself. In assessing commercial software, the product's functionality can be determined by looking at the product description. The quality of the product can be appraised by performing testing routines developed to exercise the product. That would be about the limit of one's ability to assess the product and its quality.

By contrast, open source products offer much ...