The Business and Economics of Linux and Open Source

by Martin Fink

Open Source has become a buzzword synonymous with growth and change in computing. Many of the Fortune 500 companies have made huge investments in Open Source technology. This book examines the Open Source movement, what's worked and why, and explains the technology to the mainstream investor and manager looking to replicate the successes of the Open Source movement. The book begins with an overview of the business motivations for deploying Linux and Open Source applications in the enterprise, then covers the details of what Linux is, understanding the effect of open source licenses on business and a view into the wide ranging open source communities doing active development. Next, the book takes a look at how Linux is distributed to the end user base and takes a look at the true costs of Linux and open source. In the final section, the book explains in detail how open source development takes place and how business can and should take advantage of it. The book ends with a series of open source business models and a listing of talent management working within the open source community.

242 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2002