Open source code is not just for enthusiastic web developers anymore. In fact, industries worldwide, including healthcare, education, and government, are now reaping the rewards of open source code too. Once non-tech businesses understand how to manage open source software licenses, they can easily enhance their industry practices in fresh and creative ways.
Below are a few industries reaping the benefits of open source code today:
Healthcare: In the UK, the NHS is leveraging the capabilities of open source code, openMAXIMS EPR suite, in order to develop an electronic patient record system. Healthcare industry experts hope to improve the speed and flexibility of services through implementing open source code. The integration of open source code in the healthcare industry is especially important because the community can continuously build and improve upon the current software with a necessary urgency.
Education: Gibbon is an open source software originated by an educator in Hong Kong. It’s a comprehensive platform that provides simplicity in the management of educators’ workload by way of digital planners, timelines and grade book among other features—including, but not limited to an instant messaging system. Open source code provides immediate learning solutions for educators, and in turn, stimulates the collaboration of other educators to create even more advanced types of software.
Government: In Canada, a group called Getting Open Source Logic Into Government (GOSLING) is dedicated to proving the benefits of open source code integration in the government. They argue that proprietary software is costing the government billions of dollars and open source code could provide a cost efficient solution. Meanwhile, in the U.S.—though the specifics remain under wraps—the Department of Defense leveraged open source code to their own advantages, according to the Chief Architect at Intelligent Software Solution.
It’s simple to see the trajectory of open source code usage across markets and industries in the future.