Is the cost advantage one gets by using open source technology for project/product development substantial?
The cost advantage involving no upfront cost is a huge driver for companies adopting open source tools for project development. However, the total cost of ownership of products/projects using open source is not free. There is the added cost of the entire open source ecosystem – including support, maintenance, customisation etc. Thus, although the cost advantage is present it is lower than the perception. Q: You spoke about community support — cost advantage being a boon for companies using FOSS/Linux for product development. Does the boon become a bane if a company opts for an immature platform? A: Yes, it is true that the advantage of community support resulting in cost savings and more flexibility applies mainly for mature open source platforms. The presence of open source technology gives one, multiple options to choose tools to meet project requirements but it comes with the challenge of selecting the right tool set. The cost advantage gets diluted for nascent open source platforms
