Adaptive Improvisation and the True Value of Open Source

Since the last FOSS4G conference in North America in 2007 there has been a profound shift in how the value of open source software is perceived.  No longer merely a "free" substitute for commercial equivalents, the open source model is highly valued as being particularly well suited for fast-moving, dynamic environments that move too quickly for commercial release cycles.  From "hot" startups to the US military, open source is now viewed as a key driver of innovative experimentation and rapid modification.  We'll discuss how this re-framing of the conversation bodes particularly well for the future of geospatial open source.