5. Conclusion

The most important thing to remember from this article is that the development model of Linux and Open Source software is its greatest asset: the fact that a proportion of users employ the software in its development version means that bugs can be found more quickly and quality improved, while ensuring that new features meet user needs. What's more, the great flexibility they offer means that these solutions are very often used in all kinds of products, including those where their presence is not even suspected (cell phones, PDAs, ADSL/TV boxes from ISPs, VCRs, media players, routers, firewalls, etc.).

On the other hand, this constant evolution (new features, changing behavior, obsolete software replaced by others) can pose problems for some users. That's why Linux distributions play such a vital role in the ecosystem, especially for those who need to manage large...