Open Source software is a software anyone can use, develop, and modify for free. It is
easy to see, why Open Source software appeals to more and more users all over the
world. Programming skills are no longer that much a rarity among the end users of all
kinds of software. And keeping up with this trend is vital to any software producer.
Gurux Ltd, a Finnish producer of device communication software, has been moving step
by step towards going Open Source for quite a while now. After releasing Windows Vista
compatible versions, of its device communication programs, in June 2008, Gurux Ltd
published GXDN, Gurux Developer Network. All components of Gurux device
communication software were carefully documented, and revealed to the public in
February 2009.
To go Open Source was obviously not lightly decided. And even after making that
decision, it took a lot of planning to sort out how and when. In the beginning of August
the project of going Open Source had proceeded to a point of joining a research project
in Tampere University Of Technology, about building Open Source communities. Gurux
Ltd also joined in COSS, which is a central association of Open Source Solutions in
Finland. Now it has been made known to the public that all Gurux software is to be
published under GPL2 on 30th September.
What is Gurux looking forward to gain?
- Going Open Source is a good way to get a vaster group of users for our software.
Not vaster only by number, but also by different experience, background, and
special needs. Our software developing process has always been user-centered.
With going Open Source, we hope to get even more feedback, and be able to
make our software even better, says Mikko Kurunsaari, the managing director of
Gurux Ltd.
To some, going Open Source may not seem such a good idea. The opponents say that it
is not good business thinking to start giving products away for free. So, why give up
good sales and go Open Source?
- At Gurux, we don't see going Open Source that much as giving something up, but
rather as an invitation to the users of our software, to join us developing it,
Kurunsaari says.
