How do you use open source software for businesses?

Answer 1

You use it as any other software. Use it to run your business, run your webserver, your accounting, your servers, your firewall, your print server, your collaboration server, your VOIP PBX, your e-mail server, your media player, or create and edit text documents, presentations, spreadsheets, images, logos, pictures, videos, podcasts, etc.

The core difference between open source and proprietary software is that you have access to the source code if you need to. This enables you to make changes, enhancements or bug fixes (or hire someone to do it for you), how you want and when you want.

In contrast, with proprietary software you have to rely on the company that licenses it to you to make such enhancements and fixes.

As this company is the only one who has access to the source code, they can exert monopoly power over you. Many users have been frustrated that bugs get never fixed, because they do only affect a small number of people or there is a newer release already out.

In even the most restricted open source licenses (GPL and LGPL), you can use and change the software however you like. Only when you distribute (give away, license, sell) the software, you need to give the user the same rights you got (access to the source code, right to change, right to license further).