Open Source Software (OSS) development is a shining example
of the new era. The cutthroat and
monopolistic business practices with which companies like Microsoft have
eliminated their competition and controlled certain spaces have proven
ineffective to stop it as open source operating systems, databases, web
browsers and development tools erode their market share. Ten years ago, most people would not have
believed that groups of loosely affiliated programmers who are sharing their
code openly and have no recognizable business model could produce more stable,
more innovative and more efficient products than the corporate giants. Many still cannot see it, but there are
irresistible forces afoot.