Following proof-of-concept trials held between the end of 2003 and mid-2004 involving IBM Corp and Sun Microsystems Inc, the OGC has concluded: Open source software is a viable and creditable alternative to proprietary software for infrastructure implementations, and for meeting the requirements of the majority of desktop users.
The OGC stated that there are no significant obstacles… for the adoption of open source in infrastructure developments, but that a lack of complex functionality to ease migration and interoperability remained obstacles to desktop deployment.
Reports from the trial sites showed that generally OSS personal productivity software is adequate for transaction users, whose work is largely procedural and routine, and who constituted typically about 85%-90% of the desktop users in the trial sites, but the software is not yet widely accepted for use by knowledge workers or power users, the OGC report explained.
The key issues here remain migration and interoperability of complex files and, though open source desktop applications have improved significantly there can still be problems for the minority of files which make use of complex features, it added.
Despite those problems, the proof-of-concept trials indicated that significant software licensing savings can be made through the use of open source, as well as hardware savings resulting from reduced upgrade requirements.
The adoption of open source software can generate significant savings in hardware and software costs for infrastructure implementation, and reduce the licensing costs and hardware refresh requirements for desktop implementation, the OGC said.
The report also makes interesting reading in the light of Microsoft Corp CEO Steve Ballmer’s claim this week that the number of security vulnerabilities is lower on Windows, and Windows’ responsiveness on security is better than Linux.
While the OGC report did not seek to investigate in any detail the relative security merits of open and closed source software, it did identify the rapid production of patches and updates from the open source community as a benefit.
Patches or updates to OSS following discovery of faults such as security vulnerabilities tend to be produced very rapidly, often within hours or days of the announcement of the discovery of a problem, it stated. Users of closed source proprietary software are dependent upon the software vendor to release an updated binary version. This can take considerably longer, leaving the user vulnerable to known threats.
The OGC trials of open source software began in September 2003 with the assistance of the Office of the e-Envoy (now renamed the e-Government Unit) and IBM, and were expanded in December 2003 to take in Sun’s Linux-based Java Desktop System.
UK government sites participating in the proof of concept trials included Central Scotland Police, the e-Government Unit, the Office of Water Services (Ofwat), the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions, Powys County Council, and an unnamed Government department.
The report also involved input from other open source government projects, including the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Academy and West Sussex County Council in the UK, as well as the City of Munich in Germany, and Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, among others.
While the report highlights the potential for open source software, and particularly raises the profile for open source desktop deployments within UK government agencies, it does not represent a major change of policy thinking from the Government.
In July 2002 the OGC released a policy statement on open source software stating that it should be considered alongside proprietary software with contracts awarded on a value for money basis, while agencies should attempt to avoid vendor lock-in to proprietary products.
The latest OGC report does not mandate the use of open source software within government agencies, noting that decisions need to be taken on a case-by-case basis, and warned: The adoption of open source, particularly for the desktop, requires investment in planning, training of users, development of skills for implementation and support, and detailed consideration of migration and interoperability issues.
It added that: In considering the implications of migrating to OSS, organizations should undertake a comparison of costs and benefits, and take into account the full lifecycle costs of continuing to use, support and upgrade proprietary software.
Nevertheless, the OGC admitted that growth in the adoption of open source software raises implications for future Government policy as it looks to encourage future development and deliver alternatives, and added that it will continue to work closely with the e-Government Unit on the implementation of the government’s open source policy, version two of which is due to be published before the end of the year.
