Matt Asay’s column today in The Register highlights the economic benefits of open source versus proprietary software businesses.
He said that during the recession, open source companies did quite well, while many closed source firms have struggled.
“This shouldn’t be surprising. Pinched corporate pocketbooks sent more IT directors scouring the web for high-quality, low-cost open-source software. And they found it, leading to robust earnings at public and private open-source companies alike.
Red Hat has nailed quarter after quarter of impressive sales and profitability. Alfresco has notched 20-straight quarters of growth, becoming profitable in 2009. These are but two examples of the profitable growth the downturn engendered in the open-source set.
Life is good in open-source land. Even when it’s bad everywhere else.”
