TECHNOLOGY FOR CHANGE

Open-Source Projects to Keep an Eye on This Year

Dave Greenfield | Date: 01-12-11 | Comments

What's hot in open source this year? Here are a few of our picks.

Free and open-source programs are a smart financial source, but they�re also a good way to tap into the collective expertise of the online community, and there are a few that you�ll definitely want to keep an eye on in 2011.

Google Chrome OS is a good starting place. Chrome OS has been in a holding pattern for some time, and is an application many have been eagerly awaiting. This OS is going to be available on new computers, but it is possible to get the program as an open-source release on the equipment you have now. Many experts believe that Chrome OS may be a major contender against Windows, and experts predict that if Google�s advertising strategy is sound, it may truly be ready to take on that heavyweight program.

Another choice to keep your eye on is GNOME 3.0. This desktop environment was delayed a few times last year, and has undergone a complete overhaul and cleansing. The few development versions that were released in 2010, however, did not receive the kudos expected, and it�s the opinion of many software giants that there won�t be a huge deal of praise for this project in the year 2011. There�s always the hope, however, that the company will pull something amazing from out of nowhere and shock everyone with the framework necessary to change the way you do business.

And, of course, there�s the story of Oracle and its lawsuit for patent infringement that it brought against Google in late summer 2010. During 2011, we should see the results of this case come to fruition and should learn how useful Oracle will continue to be. Many companies are already using this multifaceted choice, but there are complaints rumbling with regard to release timing. So as useful as it may be, if it doesn�t stay on top of scheduling, it could also prove problematic.

One thing�s for sure: There is a large number of ongoing open-source software projects rumored to release in 2011, enough to keep any IT manager intrigued.