Open source products provide users with applications that rival commercial products yet have no cost attached to downloading them.

Over 2.7 million developers have generated more than 260,000 software programs designed to do everything from creating a document to managing a company. Just how do these developers produce this much free content? Keep reading!

A Matter of Principal

The open source community has three core beliefs.

• Open source products should be free, as in no strings attached.
• Open source products should provide users with the source code.
• Open source products should allow users to modify and distribute the source code without paying royalties or fees to the developers.

Why Open Source

Maintaining an open source program is not free. Developers have to pay for server space, a domain, and other expenses involved in maintaining a popular program. Why then would they give away their product?

Each developer might have a different answer to that question. Some are paying it forward because they used open source code in their own creations. Others have struggled against commercial manufacturers and view open source as a way to take a stand against manufacturer gridlock.

Project Origins

Many open source programs, such as Pidgin, began as school projects for students pursuing degrees related to some type of technology or computer development. As such, the developers spend much of the time creating the project doing homework for class. Other projects, like PHP and Calibre, began because developers wanted to implement a solution for a problem they faced.

Production

When developers give away the source code to a product, it inspires creativity. Other developers will take the code and hack it, or modify it, to expand the original parameters. These volunteers then add their modifications to the open source project. Other people who have benefited by using the free program often contribute by helping to fix and correct any bugs that occur.

There are many things, like virtualization technology, that may not be as easy to make free. So this is another thing to consider in why some things are open source, and some things aren’t.

Development Time

Creating and maintaining a program takes time. While the initial code may come together quickly, it can take years to expand the parameters and gain traction. What a consumer downloads today may seem like a hefty package, but developers may have pieced the code together until it grew to the latest version’s feature-rich package.

Building From One Another

Open source code encourages developers to modify something already in existence rather than starting from scratch. Consider libpurple, a developer’s library for chat clients. Almost every open source chat protocol available today has some piece of libpurple in the code.

Donations

Donations help keep open source programs going. Consider the person who uses an open source PDF creator instead of a commercial one. The person could potentially save hundreds of dollars. Donating $50 helps the individual show his appreciation. It can also pay for the product’s domain registration for a year, depending on the host the developer uses.

Open source programs rely on several factors to support free distribution. All the aforementioned things, such as volunteers and donations, contribute to the ever-growing open source community. These things, working together, are the essential elements that allow developers to give away free products.

A truth has been discovered, tucked between the spark lines and budget examinations. You want an education. A degree must be earned; a life must be changed. You want to redefine your days to courses, ensuring that you don’t remain trapped in an office. Success is instead to be found.

Such success seems improbable, however.

No time can be spared; no hours can be sacrificed. You can’t abandon your career, shuttling between campuses, devoting afternoons to books. You must work, generating the necessary income, battling debt collectors and expenses. No wages can be lost; and you think your dream of a university is futile.

It isn’t.

An education can be gained by those who must remain in an office. It merely requires patience, diligence and access to a computer.

Online campuses are available — allowing credits to be achieved without ever leaving a desk. Individuals needing a less conventional experience can discover all they need: diversity, cost efficiency and relevant training. And these traits have never been more embodied than in the top universities:

Kaplan University

Variety shapes all online courses, allows them to provide classroom-worthy lessons from the confines of a cubicle; and fewer virtual campuses offer more distinctions than Kaplan. Established in 1937 as a commerce institution, Kaplan has grown into one of the most famed distance learning centers in the United States.

It offers 10 distinct schools (such as Business, Health Sciences and Law) and over 100 individual degrees — ensuring that the perfect subject can be found. There’s no struggle for credits and no concern for weak semesters. Diversity can be achieved and, for those who must study from work, this is vital. All wanted courses can be chosen.

Ashford University

Cost forever defines education — all students fear admission fees and loans, the staggering interest rates. Dollars can be quickly claimed; and those who are already forced to fling so much of their money away (office obligations are endless) can think credits are impossible. Ashford University, however, offers an alternative.

Since 1918, this accelerated learning college focuses on liberal arts and budget-friendly prices. A part-time student can earn 18 credits without spending even $500.00 for the year. This offers the vital lessons without draining accounts: a necessity for those forced to minimum wages.

Colorado Technical University

Industry demands perfection; and perfection demands specificity. Those wishing to obtain degrees (while still maintaining their work schedules) must gain the essential information — and Colorado Technical University offers them the chance.

Founded in 1965 to provide military personnel with an education beyond weaponry, allowing them to assimilate into society, the Technical University soon expanded into one of the most focused institutions available.

Its courses are meant to help individuals succeed in business, with all objectives tailored wisely. Each course is meant to propel careers forward and this ensures no credits are wasted. Every program is quick and deliberate. The facts gained will directly reflect an employee’s situation.

CONCLUSION

College isn’t a demand for campuses. It’s instead the promise of learning. And such learning can now be accomplished no matter what the location — with you earning your degree while not refusing your job. There’s many techniques integrated into online learning. Some integrate social media into their communications, all of them employ cloud computing to have materials and information accessible for everyone, and lots of them do video chat classes where you can actually log in and be there live. Look for the right one for you.

If you’re in management – or you want to be – it’s important that you do it right. Sure, you can boss everyone around all the time and tell them what to do, but it’s much better for everyone involved if you can work with your employees and show them that they matter. They’ll be a lot more loyal that way. With that in mind, here are the top eight traits of a good manager.

1. Self-motivation

If you’re not motivated to do anything with the business in order to help it succeed, why should anyone who works for you be motivated? You have to model the behavior that you want to see in others, and that includes showing that you’re motivated. You may not always feel motivated, but make sure you always act motivated.

2. Being a Team Player

Getting along with people matters. If you never come out of your office and just give orders all the time, your employees aren’t going to like or respect you and they aren’t going to work as hard.

3. The Ability to Resolve a Conflict

People are going to get on one another’s nerves. It happens. When you’re the boss, it’s your job to make sure that it doesn’t escalate into something that’s a serious problem. Whether it’s customers, employees, or both, resolving conflict is vital.

4. Good Skills Where Customer Service is Concerned

Customers are what makes your business. Without them, you have nothing, so you have to know how to make (and keep) them happy.

5. An Optimistic Attitude

No one wants to work for a pessimistic person who never sees the good side of anything. Show your employees that you understand difficult circumstances, but that there isn’t anything that can’t be dealt with. Keep a positive attitude and your employees will generally follow along.

6. True Leadership Skills

Being a leader comes naturally to some people, while others take time to learn it. No matter how, where, or when you acquired your leadership skills, the important thing is that you take your position seriously and continue to cultivate the leadership skills that you’ve developed.

7. Trustworthiness and Integrity

Your employees need to trust you and so do your customers. If you can’t show them that you’re worthy of being trusted, you won’t be effective as a leader.

8. Industry Knowledge

Knowing about the industry you’re in is something that every good manager should spend time on. If you don’t know your industry, how can you ever really hope to be competitive?

Keep in mind that there are more ways to be a good manager and business leader than just the ones listed here. Some people are simply better at it than others, too, so you may have a natural talent for it or you may have to work a little bit harder. That can help you learn and grow, though, so don’t shy away from the work that it takes to truly be a good manager.

Back in 1983, the movie “Wargames” introduced a lot of the general population to this thing called the Internet. In that flick, a savvy computer hacker used his dial-up modem to change his grades, lower his family’s utility bills and almost launch WWIII. Soon after the debut of that film, the notion of having a home computer with a modem spread across the land. It wasn’t long before millions of users were logging into AOL and waiting for that dial-up to connect them to the world wide web. The rest is Internet history.

Today, with broadband Internet speeds and high performance home PCs, many people are taking the option of working or learning from home. Why not? If all the work you do is conducted online then you can do that work from anywhere, right? Before you decide if working from home is an ideal choice, consider the pros and cons.

THE GOOD

• NO TRAFFIC JAMS: The only traffic jam you’ll face is how much clutter you have in the hallway between your bedroom and your home office. The start of your work day is just a mouse click away.
• NO TIME CLOCK TO PUNCH: As long as you get your work done, you can do it whenever you want if you’re working from home. Want to take a long lunch or duck out to the movies? Wake up early and finish your project and the rest of the day is all yours.
• NO BOSS: If you’ve spent any time in the workforce then, chances are, you’ve got a boss horror story. Working at home means no one will be looking over your shoulder. The most you’ll get are some annoying emails from your supervisor. Yelling at the computer is not only allowed, it is encouraged.

THE NOT SO GOOD

• PLENTY OF DISTRACTIONS: Let’s face it, we can all get lost on YouTube. One click leads to another. Before you know it, three hours have gone by and all you have to show for it is a list of favorite videos including sneezing Pandas and dancing Thailand prisoners. If you treat your home office hours like your real office hours, the Internet surfing should be kept at a minimum.
• YOUR LIFE: Putting yourself into a home office is perfect if you’re single, but if you’ve got a family then they are going to assume your presence means you’re there for them. Sure it makes shopping, school pickups and helping with homework a lot easier, but you still need to set boundaries.
• NO SOCIALIZING: Say good-bye to the four o’clock slice of office birthday cake. Working at home means you’re on your own. Yes, you’re connected to the world, but there is very little face to face interaction. If you’re a social creature who lives for office gossip, working at home might not be the best choice for you.

If you decide to take the plunge and work from home, you’ll be making some adjustments, but will likely find it’s as easy to make it work as booting up your computer.

When you’re in the market to buy a car, there are a few top questions to ask your car dealer before buying. It doesn’t matter if you’re purchasing a brand new car or a used car, there are questions that every potential car owner should inquire about other than just car prices. Here are a few questions to consider before you make a decision on purchasing an automobile.

Warranty

A warranty is an important part of any vehicle sale and differs from dealer to dealer. Typically, a used car may not have a warranty at all or can have a limited warranty. Be sure to ask about the type of warranty you will receive, if any, and what the warranty covers. This applies to new cars and used cars. Some finance companies will offer a warranty that can be added to your monthly payment and help defer any costs you may incur if the vehicle has mechanical problems.

Service Records

If you are purchasing a used car, inquire about any service records that may be available. Sometimes private owners include the paperwork with the car they are selling so a car dealer may have these available to you. The service records will allow you to see what work has been done on the car, how often the oil was changed and any purchases such as new tires. On that note, ask if there is a CARFAX report available.

Test Drive

Ask if you are able to test drive the vehicle and have it checked out by a mechanic. If you are purchasing a new car then you’ll definitely be able to test drive it. However, on a used car it is even more important to be able to not only drive the car yourself but take it to your mechanic to look for any obvious issues. Certain dealerships will allow you to keep a vehicle a day or two to see how you like it. Ask if this is possible and if so, do you have to leave a deposit.

Price

The price of the car may seem like an obvious question to ask but it is important to inquire about the extras as well. Items such as tax, tag and title can increase the price considerably so be sure to find out what the extras will cost.

Fuel efficiency

Be sure to find out what the fuel efficiency is on the vehicle you are interested in. Consider how you will be utilizing the car; will you need it for school or work and if so, do you have a long commute or is everything close by? These factors can make a difference on the choice between two different cars you may like. One may have better fuel efficiency than another, making the decision easier to make.

By knowing what questions to ask, you can feel more confident that you’ll get the best vehicle for your money and can make an informed and knowledgeable decision when purchasing a new vehicle.

Most corporations and small companies are feeling the economic crunch and finding ways to tighten their business budgets and save money. All departments of a company are open for adjustment, but the IT department is specifically an area where the most amount of money is spent.

Some methods of saving costs for an IT department include using ERP software to facilitate better use of budgets and systems. When this method is used in conjunction with a workable system of controlling costs, IT departments in most organizations see either a lower number on their line item and/or a better work-flow system. Here are some additional ways that a company can further reduce their IT costs and stay in the black:

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If you have recently filed bankruptcy, you’re far from alone.

In the 12-month period ending June of 2010, there had been nearly 1.6 million bankruptcies in the country, the fourth straight year for significant increases in bankruptcy filings.

That means a lot of people in the country are emerging from difficult financial times with a huge blot on their credit report. A bankruptcy has the strongest negative impact on a credit report of any entry. The goal after bankruptcy is to increase the credit score, which may have fallen to the low 500s or even lower because of the bankruptcy filing. Credit scores are a crucial element in determining the cost of borrowing money. A good credit score is generally considered to be 700 to 720 or above. The lower the credit score, the higher the risk presented to a lender. That means people with low credit scores will get higher interest rates on auto loans and mortgages — if they can qualify for a loan at all.

A prepaid credit card is one way to improve a credit score. That may not make sense to some people who got into financial trouble in the first place because of credit cards. But each of the three national credit reporting agencies assess credit scores based on how people use their credit cards. So, when someone has no credit – which is the case with virtually everyone who emerges from bankruptcy – there’s no way to raise a credit score.

Making charges and paying them off in full each month will raise a credit score. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get a credit card immediately after bankruptcy. That’s why a pre-paid card is the answer; the balance on the card is money given to the company. Getting a pre-paid or secured card allows a person to improve their credit standing.

With the growth of the internet, the opportunities for those who would like to open their own business are growing as well. What once involved the expense of opening a brick and mortar business with a staff and actual furniture can now be accomplished from home at a fraction of the cost. While almost any type of business can be started online, some are a better fit than others.

If you’re considering entering the service industry, this is a great opportunity for an online business. For example, most people don’t want to go into their insurance agent’s office to purchase a new policy. Traditionally, they have called on the phone and asked for a new quote for car insurance. Next, they might have to go into the office to sign a form and pay for their coverage.

The internet has made this process much easier. The new insurance agent can sell car insurance, life insurance, vacation interruption insurance, or just about anything else from a website. Instead of being disappointed by the lack of personal attention, the customer is just glad they can click, choose, and pay right from their own home. In the meantime, the agent has made the same commission that they have always made, but they also have the opportunity to serve more people and provide that service 24 hours a day.

If you have a unique skill, the internet provides a great business opportunity for you, too. Artists can create their own website and sell directly to the public. Instead of trying to gain critical approval from the experts at a gallery, they can let both art experts and normal, everyday people decide if their creations are valuable. The internet may just make the starving artist a thing of the past. If an artist is successful, they may even be able to expand and sell artwork for others.

If you are a publisher and looking for affiliate programs as sources of income, you can read affiliate program reviews before making decisions. This way you become aware of which affiliate marketing programs are good. Beware of what’s easily advertised on the Internet and make sure it’s not a scam.

There are many things you need to understand before you do your research in this area. One thing to keep in mind is whether or not the program you are considering has a higher commission rate compared to other programs in the same category. If it does, that’s a cause for concern.

There are many scam programs out there. For example, there are programs that act as a middleman between you and the true advertiser. When you send them traffic, they send the consumer to another website and thus receive the commission instead of you. This kind of middleman marketing is detrimental to your efforts.

Another thing to beware of is whether or not there is a charge for setting up an account for you. They often take your money and do not provide you with anything of value in return. True affiliate programs should be free of cost to join.
Often, programs to which you have sent many consumers will ban you after you reach a certain threshold because you are earning too much money. You may not be able to login as before and wonder why they have done this.

When you ask about this, they offer excuses about how you did not meet their threshold and how refunds are not possible. Sometimes they claim that there are no payments for you due to technical problems they are having, while you continue to promote their product. If the product that is being sold looks too good to be true, it may be a scam. Beware and enter the world of affiliate programs with caution!

Many people who find themselves in an uncontrollable amount of debt turn to a debt consolidation service to help them regain control of their finances. If you are struggling with debt, you can proactively work toward consolidating your debt today. Here are some tips to get you started.

Make a Budget

Start by making a list of all the money that comes in to your household and all the money that goes out. Make sure you use the amount of money you deposit, not the pre-tax figure. This is the first step to gaining a big-picture view of where your finances stand. If you’re spending more than you’re bringing in, then you have to make some adjustments. It goes without saying that once you create the budget, you also have to stick to it.

Cut Out Unnecessary Spending

Review the expenses you have and highlight the expenses you can cut out or cut down. Typically, these are unnecessary spending, such as the trips to your local coffee shop. To save money, you can brew coffee at home. Instead of eating out, you can cook at home. Tally up the money you can save by cutting out these unnecessary expenses and then reallocate this amount to paying down or paying off your bad debts, such as high interest rate credit cards.

Pay Off Bad Debt First

Bad debts are debts that have high interest rates and that are not tax deductible. Generally, these are consumer credit cards, furniture credit accounts, auto loans, and personal loans. Beside your budget list of expenses, make a note of the interest rate. When you reallocate the money you’re saving by sticking to your budget, start by paying off the highest interest rate on your list. Other ways to consolidate include earning extra cash, using a debit card, using direct deposit, working out debt repayment plans, and becoming a thrifty shopper.