Open-Source Software to Watch for in 2009

gracechen — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:11:42 +0000

When big companies launch their new commercial software, they do so with press releases, conferences and other hoopla that adds to the hype. When new open-source products are introduced, even some of the popular ones are launched with far less fanfare. The community involved with this type of software are usually too busy developing and testing their projects to roll out all the bells and whistles that come along with a marketing campaign. This is often the case with some of the most remarkable programs. Although we have already zoomed through a good portion of 2009, there are still a number of big open-source projects that have yet to be released. We have gathered up some of the most notable in this article.

New Linux Platforms

Linux fans have a lot to look forward to as there are major plans in the works for this open-source operating system. Already launching Ubuntu 9.04 in April of this year, the Ubuntu development team is also looking to introduce 9.10 in October 2009. Some of the new features promised are integration with Amazon’s EC2 API, which will allow users to set up their own cloud with open tools, and a kernel mode for enabling a seamless, flicker-free startup. In addition, Red Hat is slated to release Fedora 11 sometime this summer, complete with many new updates. According to the developers, the system will boot up and shut down faster and also include improved support for fingerprint readers.

Scripting Tools and Languages

In December of 2008, the development communities of Merb and Ruby on Rails made an agreement to merge instead of maintain parallel development initiatives. Their goal was to preserve the advanced features and flexible configuration of Merb along with the ease of use and enhanced productivity that has made Rails such a hit among developers. Called Rails 3, the new project will incorporate various features and concepts of Merb, including its JavaScript libraries, object relational models and template languages. Although Rails 3 didn’t make its May 2009 beta release date, developers may want to keep their ear to the ground to see when it does hit the market.

More Open-Source Projects to Keep an Eye On

MariaDB – This project is a community-developed branch of MySQL. The brainchild of Michael “Monty” Widenius, MySQL AB and Monty Program AB founder, the database is said to be powered by the Maria storage engine.

CodeIgniter 2.0 - Designed for coders who desire a more user-friendly and elegant toolkit, CodeIgniter 2.0 is a PHP framework that leaves a minimal footprint and allows developers to create full-featured web-based applications.

Dojo 1.3 – This tool set is an all-in-one solution for developers who need to create dynamic web applications, particularly those who want to become masters at DHTML and JavaScript coding. Said to be released in the very near future, Dojo 1.3 offers a new lightning fast CSS selector query engine as well as all new widgets and components.

There is a slew of open-source software projects set to hit the market and we haven’t even scratched the surface. Others include software for mobile platforms, business apps, enterprise collaboration and many more. With so much on the plate, there is bound to be an open-source application you’ve been looking forward to coming very soon.

Web Hosting Fan » open-source product

Open-Source Software to Watch for in 2009