After 10 years, I’ve finally done it.  I’ve written a book!  Over the years, there were multiple times I thought, “I’m done – it’s written.”  I would set it aside to let my thoughts settle.  When I picked it up again, I’d say “it’s good, but needs a little work.”  Maybe I’m too much of a perfectionist, but I wanted to make sure it was worth reading!  I’ve gone through at least 10 revisions and I finally think it’s ready.

The book is about one of my passions — open source software (OSS).  I love the way OSS can help companies drive down the cost of operations; help developers deliver new capabilities faster; and focus on creating new, innovative products!  Over the years, I’ve used OSS to achieve these results many times.

Companies of all sizes use OSS, but they don’t often follow a responsible OSS introduction process.  It’s common for a company to allow its developers to use any OSS they want, often without any legal review and management guidance.  This style of OSS introduction limits the benefits you can get from OSS and increases various risks to your company.  Equifax is one recent example where mismanagement of OSS resulted in a loss of sensitive information for 143 million American consumers.  With a responsible OSS introduction and management process, you can get the maximum benefit out of using OSS, minimize risk, and reduce overall operating cost.

I also see small companies and freelancers spend money on software without considering OSS first.  The open source community has created many great products that can substitute for expensive vendor products.  My book identifies some of these resources and guides you through the selection process to choose what is right for you.  I even wrote the book, created all the graphics (from interior diagrams to the book cover), and performed the desktop publishing using 100% open source software!  If I can do it, you can too.

Check out my book, Open Source Software: Implementing a Successful OSS Management Practice, on Amazon.

For those who want assistance or would like to explore how the OSS model could help you compete with large commercial organizations, I have a consulting company that is happy to help.  SilverStream Consulting has a variety of services that focus on using OSS and helping companies create new opportunities, dominate markets, and gain an advantage.

Do you have an OSS success story?  

—Jeff Brown, SilverStream Consulting