Your search for a content managment system has brought you to WebGUI's web site. You may have noticed that WebGUI is referred to as “open source.” What does that mean?

WebGUI is an open source CMS licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which states, “the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--to make sure the software is free for all its users.” In a nutshell, this means that WebGUI is licensed as free software. Not only is WebGUI a free content management system, but you are welcome to copy, distribute, and edit it for your use according to the terms set out in the license.

The term “open source” is hardly new to the software industry. As early as the 1950's, developers were programming and openly collaborating on code. About half a decade later the Open Source Initiative had developed, strongly advocating open, shared source code for the benefit of everyone. The word “open” does not necessarily mean “free,” although most open source software is available for free. The term “open source” actually refers to the software's openly available source code, as opposed to the strictly guarded source code generated by commercial companies and protected under strict commercial license. Today, open source is alive and thriving, due largely in part to the late 20th century Internet boom, and applications to serve almost any need can be found under public license.

WebGUI, like many other open source software applications, is a free content management system. You may download it, use it, share it, view its source code, and edit its source code as you see fit. However, just because WebGUI is open source doesn't mean you have to go it alone. WebGUI is developed by Plain Black, and Plain Black provides a full line of professional services to assist you. With WebGUI, you get the best of both worlds: a great open source CMS and a professional services organization like Plain Black to train and support your staff to help you achieve your goals.

In addition to getting a great free CMS, you are also getting a strong user community. Keep the spirit of open source alive by becoming an active community participant, and share what you've learned and developed with others. In this way, WebGUI can remain one of the most powerful open source content management systems available, and yes, it will always be free.