Open Source for Business Seminar Outline

Written By: David E. Jones
Email: jonesde@ofbiz.org
Open For Business Site: http://www.ofbiz.org
Founders and Lead Architects: David E. Jones & Andy Zeneski
Last Updated: 17 April 2004

Target Audience
  1. Managers
  2. Decision Makers
  3. Developers
  4. Others Interested
Topics Covered
  1. Open Source Principles
    1. Open Source & Free Software
    2. Quality Through Peer Revenue and Mass Use
    3. Improvements, Planned and Evolved, Through Direct Feedback
    4. More on opensource.org, the Open Source Initiative website
  2. Different Types of Software & How Open Source Applies
    1. Infrastructure
    2. Applications
      1. Desktop Applications
      2. Business Applications
  3. Open Source Licenses
    1. GPL & LGPL
      1. More restrictive, modifications must be open sourced
      2. Best for Infrastructure Software and Most Desktop Applications
    2. BSD & MIT
      1. Changes unburdened, free to redistribute, sell, etc
      2. Best for Business Application Software
    3. Others: Mozilla, Apache, Sun, Apple, etc, etc
    4. OSI Licenses (www.opensource.org)
  4. Using Open Source Software in Your Business
    1. As an End User
    2. As a Services Organization
    3. Creating Open Source Software
  5. Making Money with Open Source Software
    1. Packaged Products
      1. Distributions
      2. Specialized “Commercial” Software
      3. Commercial Software Loss Leader Variation
      4. Providing Application Services (ASP)
    2. Services
      1. Consulting: Analysis & Design
      2. Consulting: Implementation
      3. End User and Developer Support
      4. Deployment
      5. Hosting
    3. Training
      1. Developer Training
      2. Support and Deployment Training
      3. User Training
      4. Management Training
      5. Customized Training
    4. Open Source Project Features
      1. Payment for Specific Features
      2. Payment for Feature Priority
      3. Consulting Style
      4. Continuous Auction Style (the voting site)
    5. Accessories
      1. Books
      2. Hats, Shirts, etc
      3. Mascot Dolls
    6. Hardware
      1. Compatible Hardware
      2. Hardware with Pre-installed and Configured Software
      3. Open Sourcing Software Necessary for the Hardware
        1. Device Drivers
        2. Critical Applications & Utilities
      4. The Hardware Manufacturer Running the Open Source Project
      5. The Open Source Project Runner Selling 3rd Party Hardware
      6. A Hardware Company Packaging 3rd Party Open Source Software
  1. Quick Overview of Popular and Useful Open Source Projects
    1. Finding Open Source Software
      1. freshmeat.net
      2. sourceforge.net
      3. osdir.com
    2. Operating Systems
      1. Linux
      2. BSD
    3. Desktop Applications
      1. Graphical Environments
        1. KDE
        2. Gnome
      2. Web Browsers & Email Clients
        1. Mozilla
        2. Konquerer & Kmail
        3. Evolution
      3. “Office” Software
        1. OpenOffice
        2. K Office
    4. Server Applications
      1. Web, Mail & Other Servers
        1. BIND (DNS)
        2. Apache
        3. Sendmail
        4. Postfix
        5. James
      2. Application Servers
        1. Tomcat
        2. Jetty
        3. JBoss
        4. JOnAS
        5. Tyrex
      3. Databases
        1. PostgreSQL
        2. MySQL
        3. SAP DB
        4. Hypersonic SQL
    5. Server Side Applications
      1. TUTOS
      2. Compiere
      3. OFBiz