Open Source Featured Article

OpenLogic, which sells enterprise open source software, has announced the results of what company officials characterize as an "informal" survey, finding that enterprise acceptance of open source software is increasing -- while 60 percent of enterprises using open source lack effective means to track what open source software is installed.

Company officials polled a variety of executives - "more than half of them from Fortune 500 companies," on how their corporations identify and manage open source usage. They found 18 percent of respondents "preferred" open source software, while a healthy 41 percent think open source software is "on equal footing" with proprietary software. But most respondents admitted that they have no automated way to track what open source software is used inside their organization, "either because they don't have any formal inventory processes or because they rely on self-reporting."

None of the executives polled said usage of open source was flatly not allowed at their companies. Twenty-nine percent said their company policy was that open source was to be used only if no other solution existed, and twelve percent said open source was allowed when it was "superior to other solutions." 

OpenLogic provides a library of open source software, with what company officials say are "hundreds of the most popular open source packages via OpenLogic Exchange, a free Web site where companies can find, research, and download certified, enterprise-ready open source packages on demand."

In April, TMC reported that OpenLogic launched the new version of its OpenLogic Exchange Enterprise Edition, describing OLEX as "a comprehensive open source software governance platform that integrates open source provisioning, open source policy enforcement, online approval processes, and full tracking and audit trail of open source usage."