Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
efforts over the observed life cycle, which can be considered as “servicing
the software”. In order to make this a viable business, users and software
producers have to contract so called “service agreements” for a certain period
of time.
This kind of business model can be a win-win for both, users and manu-
facturers alike. Manufacturers are generating continuous cash flow, allowing
them to maintain a team of experts over an extended period of time, dedi-
cated to continuously improving the software. Users in exchange are having
guaranteed access to a qualified technical support team ensuring fast response
in a case of critical software failures.
Proprietary software makes it mostly impossible for the user to switch
software service providers later on, but leave users in a “vendor lock-in” situ-
ation with no competition on the software service market. Competition how-
ever is the most effective driver for quality improvement and cost eciency.
Considering commercial, technical, safety and security aspects, the risks
associated with complex closed source software should be reason enough for
the railway operators to consider alternatives, in particular when a large eco-
nomic body, like the European Union, defines a new technological standard.
Watts Humphrey, a fellow of the Software Engineering Institute and a
Recipient of the 2003 National Medal of Technology (US), has put the general
problem of growing software complexity in these words [21]:
“While technology can change quickly, getting your people to change takes
a great deal longer. That is why the people-intensive job of developing software
has had essentially the same problems for over 40 years. It is also why, unless
you do something, the situation won't improve by itself. In fact, current trends
suggest that your future products will use more software and be more complex
than those of today. This means that more of your people will work on software
and that their work will be harder to track and more dicult to manage.
Unless you make some changes in the way your software work is done, your
current problems will likely get much worse.”
3
Proposal: Free / Libre Open Source Software for
ETCS
A promising solution for the previously described diculties could be given
by providing an “Open Source ETCS” onboard system, making the embedded
software source code and relevant documentation open to the entire railway
sector.
“Open Source Software”, “Free Software” or “Libre Software” more often
called “Free/Libre Open Source Software” short: “FLOSS” [22], is soft-
ware that:
1. Can be used for any purpose,
2. Can be studied by analyzing the source code,
3. Can be improved and modified and
