Open Source vs. EValid

All aspects of eValid product installation and licensing.

Open Source vs. EValid

Postby mr622 » Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:24 pm

We are currently using an open source solution for our automated testing
and right now, it fulfills our requirements.

eValid seems to be the best solution but not the cheapiest, and as you
know, money does rule this world, especially these times...

--@
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Open Source vs. EValid

Postby eValid » Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:27 pm

We are currently using an open source solution for our automated testing
and right now, it fulfills our requirements.

eValid seems to be the best solution but not the cheapiest, and as you
know, money does rule this world, especially these times...

You're correct, eValid is certainly not the least expensive, but
as you may also know it is not simply purchase cost that determines
the outcome.

You have to consider the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Granted, open source involves no direct cost but there is a large
burden of cash and non-cash indirect costs:

* Cost to create/modifiy the application.

* Cost to "fill in the missing pieces"...most of the available open source solutions are more of a "framework" than a finished product or suite.

* Cost to provide technical support when there is a problem.

* Cost to provide a solution when the test requirement drops outside the "already solved" range?

* Cost to upgrade when [as seems inevitable] the open source solution is updated (bugs fixed, etc.)

* Increased costs due to the fact that things are not as automated as they can be.

One phrase that describes this kind of situation is "penny wise but pound foolish."

You'll not have up front costs, but you won't have a professionally supported product/suite, either.

It is true that some VERY large organizations do appear to adopt and apply open source solutions with good effect, but that is only true when done on a very large scale. Those organizations can bear the costs of a dedicated team charged with development and customization -- and support, and can assure team continuity due to the scale they can apply.

SME's usually get trapped (seduced) by the apparent low entry costs, but get zapped later when the local knowledge base moves on, or when a requirement arises that can't easily be met, or any number of other unexpected causes.

Yes, we know that it may appear to be less expensive to adopt open source, but as far as we know all of the open-source solutions are quite a bit behind where eValid is technically.

So you have to ask yourself, do you want to maintain a continuing research and development project to repair/adapt/extend the "free" open source solution for the duration? Or do you want to concentrate on actually solving the problem?

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