Open Source Software

POSTGRESQL is open source software. The term ``open source software'' often confuses people. With commercial software, a company hires programmers, develops a product, and sells it to users. With Internet communication, however, new possibilities exist. Open source software has no company. Instead, capable programmers with interest and some free time get together via the Internet and exchange ideas. Someone writes a program and puts it in a place everyone can access. Other programmers join and make changes. When the program is sufficiently functional, the developers advertise the program's availability to other Internet users. Users find bugs and missing features and report them back to the developers, who, in turn, enhance the program.

It sounds like an unworkable cycle, but in fact it has several advantages:

• A company structure is not required, so there is no overhead and no economic restrictions.
• Program development is not limited to a hired programming staff, but taps the capabilities and experience of a large pool of Internet programmers.
• User feedback is facilitated, allowing program testing by a large number of users in a short period of time.
• Program enhancements can be rapidly distributed to users.