The infographic in this post was created by Zenoss based on data from systems management surveys beginning in 2006.
It illustrates the attitudinal transformation towards open source applications, but the statistics really point to the profound impact of the collaborative nature of Web 2.0 technology, as well as a gradual, global assimilation to the Web 2.0 movement.
Proprietary software used to be the thing for all commercial endeavors: stable, secure, and indispensable. Now open source software like the Mozilla Firefox browser, the GNU/Linux operating system, the Apache HTTP Server, and WordPress has become commonplace and has largely lost its reputation for frailty and inferiority.
The adoption of open source systems takes time – overcoming human nature’s resistance to change always does – but it has made significant strides in the most recent decade. There is certainly still a place for proprietary software, but how long will it last?
What are your thoughts on the open source issue?
Here is a test comment to try things out!