Open source: quality from the community
Why do we love open source, and why have we stayed loyal to it since we started? What are its biggest advantages, and is it safe to use?
Our team, our projects and the technologies we use are built on the principles of free software and an internet open to everyone. We have used open source from the very beginning and see it as the most effective way to build websites and applications for both desktop and mobile devices.
Our goal is to make the online world accessible to everyone who comes into contact with it.
The biggest advantages of open source
Save on licences and avoid vendor lock-in.
It is entirely up to you how you use the project, how you adapt it and who works on it.
What does this mean at Webikon?
- We build projects in a modular way so they can be changed flexibly in the future.
- Clear, well-documented code makes life easier for anyone else who decides to work on the project.
- The CMS we deliver will be very easy to use, but we will still include a comprehensive manual or give you thorough training.
Security
The code is public and watched by thousands of eyes, so flaws and security holes are very hard to miss. That is also why updates fixing them come out so often. We chose open source for the Across Connect investment app as well.
What does this mean at Webikon?
- We have an automated system for detecting serious security issues
- A fine-tuned, stable and fast process for deploying even minor patches
- Our code always goes through a security audit
- We keep the team up to date on the latest security practices and threats
- Individual security comes first for us
- Using a password manager is mandatory
- Password expiry and rotation
- 2FA is mandatory
- Server and hosting access only via SFTP/SSH and VPN
- Regular audits of our server infrastructure
- Security workshops
- Everyone on the team has access only to the information and websites or applications they need. No unnecessary privilege escalation
- Time-limited access
- A named person is responsible for access to client data or the live website
High compatibility
Well-known open-source projects are designed to work well with other systems and to be easy to combine. That is why we chose WordPress for the Websupport project, and integrating Websupport's sales application into it was straightforward.
What does this mean at Webikon?
- Our projects are quite literally built on open-source code. Some of it has been with us (or with our clients) for many years
- We know well which combinations we can rely on and which to avoid
- When we really can't find any code that suits us, we write new code from scratch and then publish it as open source
Customisable to the project's needs
Open source usually follows current trends and modern approaches. It is highly extensible and can be built upon with the features you need.
We made use of this on the Nivy Centrum project too, which is unusual in combining a bus station with a shopping centre. We built it on Laravel, which covered every feature it needed.
What does this mean at Webikon?
- We have been working with open source for more than 15 years, so we know every possibility it offers inside out.
- All our developers are proficient in today's most widely used web programming languages, PHP and JavaScript
- We contribute to open-source projects ourselves
Flexible collaboration
Very few open-source projects are looked after by just one person. They are almost always a collaboration and a shared effort.
What does this mean at Webikon?
- We use technologies and open-source software that any reasonably good developer knows. It is relatively easy to bring someone else into the team or to train one of your own people
- People working on the project can easily stand in for one another
- Team members review each other's code
Long-term maintainability
Widely used open-source solutions run for many years, and they are very likely to keep running for years to come. Our long-term partnerships are built on open source, which is why we can keep moving forward and developing projects that started 6–7 years ago. Most of our long-term partnerships are large websites such as Powerlogy or HB Reavis.
What does this mean at Webikon?
- Our priority is long-term partnerships that last for years and decades
- We work with what has been tried and tested over the years
- People on the team change, but the know-how stays
Innovation
Open source leaves plenty of room for experimenting with and improving existing solutions.
What does this mean at Webikon?
- We like to try out new things on your behalf, which we can then use on projects
- We keep learning, exploring and making our work more efficient
- Just because something works doesn't mean we can't improve it and make it more usable, faster or more secure