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→Komodo: Making Proprietary Products Open Source
*** End-user support - Open-source offers an alternative model, where easy access to the source code allows the proliferation of a multitude of alternative support organizations, each remaining small enough to remain responsive to the needs of its own set of customers.
*** Security - Flaws certainly occur in both closed-source and open-source software. However, as Shane explained, it has frequently been the case that a patch to fix one security problem in closed-source software has created another problem or failed to fix the actual problem, and other times a firm may leave a known flaw exposed for months or even years at a time. These sorts of issues seem to be less common in open-source software.
*Increased user base - As you establish a growing community your user base will increase. The most important factor of successful open source software is its community and user base. Active contribution and a thriving philosophy of sharing, establish a user base that will support your fundamentally support your product.
*Repositioning the product - Establishing a new, free product among a line of other retail products - drives interest, curiosity and exposure.
*Exposure to new markets - A leap away from a highly fragmented market with stern competition (integrated development environments).
*Increase commercial sales - Shane detailed on the fact that companies will support the product the open source product and purchase the retail edition for commercial backing (support) purposes.
With these great ideas comes challenges, and roadblocks. As Shane detailed and as I hinted above, software firms have a common problem: '''How does one expose a software product in a highly fragmented market stuffed with competition, when one has low financial backing?''' ActiveState attempted to resolve this issue by implementing strategic marketing, which fundamentally increased their user base but neglected to obtain a dominance in a niche area. The solution was to open source the product alongside an extended feature retail release. As a result, their user base greatly increased; those unwilling to pay for a product now were able to use the product and contribute, and ActiveState could explore new business models.
== Comparison ==
== My Personal Views on Open Source ==