1
edit
Changes
→Conclusion
==Conclusion==
Three months ago, I was one of the ignorant masses. I thought open source was cool, free software don't have to pay a dime, but... I didn't think it was possible to be really profitable with open source technology. I didn't really understand what open source really was and what it offered. Today, my view has been flipped almost 180 degrees. I feel that you can't start a technology related business and afford to ignore or even antagonize the open source movement. Not because open source is free, but the fact that ignoring it will make you irrelevant. Before FSOSS I learned how to take part in open source development, I learned about a few of the new and exciting technologies that are being opened using open source technology. During FSOSS I learned how a business can operate using open source as a business model, how a business can get along with the open source community to drive and enhance a product, and most of all, I gained a little more understanding about what makes open source so great.
After FSOSS, we had a report due for a course that required us to create a business plan for a company that uses open source software. I remember hearing the bewilderment of a classmate who said "How did you get those figures? We're doing open source software, it's free. You can't make money!" It was then I smiled to myself, knowing full well that three months ago, I was like him. I can't express how much FSOSS and this course expanded my understanding of the computer industry. The technology and opportunities that are available through open source... unbelievable.
