Open source (the opposite of keeping a secret or the way of the future?)

After reading a text from this link:

http://www.computerlanguage.com/2020.pdf

I wondered of the possibilities that open source could offer. What surprised me the most is the amount of people that are developing software just for the fun of it. I was already aware that many programs were out there, many free, but just as many cost money to use. And yet, the free programs are sometimes just as good as those that we need to buy. In some cases the free program is better than the commercialized one. Not only that, but the free program has fewer bugs compared to the one that a company paid huge sums of money to produce.

One example of a program that is free and works well (according to my Computer Application teacher ^^):

http://kompozer.net/

Cost: Free - whatever other program you might want to use with it (a free drawing program such as paint.net, the internet to use the research engine google and various peripherals), open office to write things in and take notes and a free operating system that suits your needs and so on. (which in the end doesn't cost all that much, maybe a few hundred for the computer if you don't already have one)

Latest version: 0.7.10 (meaning the program isn't evaluated ready for professional use according to the person in charge of this program, though it does everything you need it to do none the less)

http://kompozer.net/about/ (check the mini-FAQ)

Who develops it: Dedicated people as well as a whole cummunity/forum that can even offer code to improve the program.

opposed to:

http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/

Cost: 399$ (Dreamweaver alone) - 2499$ (all the things that can bundle and contribute to making it better) (and this isn't adding to the cost of a computer capable of running all those programs and such)

Latest version: Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 - Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection

Who develops it: Paid people in a company, some client input is probably used to better the product, but having access freely to the source code is definitely out of the question, seeing as it costs so much just to ''own'' it.


Which website maker will you pick if you compare the price and the quality? Personally, unless I'm part of a medium or large company that needs to follow the edge of technology and have money to waste, I'd go with Kompozer.


Have a nice day!

Next up, me possibly being filmed at the Morrin Center....