Build or Buy ? Often this came up with every CIOs mind when deciding on any Application solutions. There is a new way of approaching investing into software applications through Assemble concept. Open Source softwares gives the flexibility of assembling software and implementing the business requirements straightway.

For some time I have been using some of these technologies for serious business use. Some of these software are giving proprietory software, in its category, a run for money.

1. Red Hat Linux - The most popular OS now

2. Mozilla - Firefox - The alternative to Internet Explorer

3. Application Development Environment - Java , Spring Framework, Hibernate, Maven, ibatis, Struts, …

4. MySQL - The biggest threat to Oracle, DB2 and Sybase. Everybody uses MySql for large sized database applications. www.mysql.com

5. Business Intelligence - Pentaho,..it surely valuable than the commercial ones,..www.pentaho.com

6. Content Management - Alfresco - Superb application and software ,..founded by the co founder of Documentum www.alfresco.com

7. Enterprise Service Bus - SOA - Mulesource - the best in class and co exist with any commercial EAI infrastructure www.mulesource.com

There are others like Wordpress, Drupal, Jhoomla, OScommerce,…all are making their marks in the internet world.

The business model of these new ventures promoting open source software are packaging the software and earning their revenues on support and consulting.

Also this is a way for BRIC countries, to look for more Open Source software to build their path for Information Systems model. This helps them to save a lot of money and gives them the best of functionalities. For sure the next Google is in the making somewhere in India or China or Russia.