open source in the workplace
i recently got a comment from ace about a post on outlook express that i feel deserve a longer reply. here’s his comment:
why would a security paranoid system admin use outlook ?????
use thunderbird it is better than using that outlooksupport opensource software!
for starters, i do support open software. i use it and recommend it in the workplace whenever i can or whenever i’m allowed to. i use smoothwall express as the client’s firewall, dhcp, dns and web proxy server. i use linux/samba (clark connect) for file server duties as well as primary and backup domain controllers. to some extent, i’ve replaced internet explorer with firefox in most desktops.
but there are other reasons that are more “political” in nature, namely:
- the boss prefers outlook express. he’s the boss. he’s the one that signs the cheques. he’s comfortable with outlook express. but he is also using firefox now so give it some time.
- some of the staff members prefer using outlook express. they’re comfortable with it, they know most of its ins and outs and its quirks. by my observations, given the choice, they will still choose to use outlook express over thunderbird.
i have also observed that it is easier to adapt open source software in the backend first rather than in the frontend. as long as the end users are not pulled away from their “interface comfort zones” then i don’t usually get much resistance. once you change what the users see on their screens, even a little, and you’ll get the “ah..”, “ok..”, “sure..” standard responses and within a few days most of them will be back to using what they’re comfortable with.
these days, management will usually give a go ahead in an open source project if:
- it will not cost the company too much or will not cost the company anything at all,
- it will perform the same or better the the previous software its replacing.
- it has equal or better stability than the previous software.
- it has equal or better security than the previous software.
so where does it all go from here?
i think that open source software has its place in the office but, at this point in time, i am not convinced that it will completely take over the workplace anytime next week. maybe in the medium to long term, yes.
steps has already been taken to get there. i’ve already mentioned some of the open source software i’m using at the backend. on the desktop, firefox is being used by most of the users already and thunderbird is next. although i admit that this will take more time mainly because of user preference. i was given a nod by one of my clients to use one or two computers as general use desktop linux boxes so i’m currently playing around with kubuntu with pcbsd as a close second choice. so things are getting there.
at the end of the day, the question i ask myself is, “did the users get their work done?” and if they did then that’s great. if the users get their work done using open source software then all the better.
everything has its time under the sun and in the offices that i work in, both open and closed source software have their places.
still paranoid,
noel
