Open platform

In software and web-based architectures, an Open platform describes a software system which is based on open standards, such as published and fully documented external programming interfaces that allow using the software to function in other ways than the original programmer intended, without requiring modification of the source code. Using these interfaces, typically known as an application programming interface (API), a 3rd party could integrate with the platform to add functionality. An Open Platform does not mean it is open source, however most Open Platforms has multiple implementations of its API:s. For example CGI is implemented by Open source web servers as well as Microsoft Internet Information server. An Open Platform can consist of software components or modules that are either commercial or open source or both. It can also exist as a part of closed platform, such as CGI is a Open Platform, while many servers that implement CGI also have other proprietary parts that can not be considered part of the Open Platform.

An open platform implies that the vendor allows, and perhaps supports, the ability to do this. Using an open platform a developer could add features or functionality that the platform vendor hadn't completed or hadn't conceived of. An open platform allows the developer to change existing functionality, as the specifications are publicly available open standards.

A service-oriented architecture allows applications, running as services, to be accessed in a distributed computing environment, such as between multiple systems or across the internet. A major focus of Web services is to make functional building blocks accessible over standard Internet protocols that are independent from platforms and programming languages. An open SOA platform would allow anyone to access and interact with these building blocks.

See also

• Application Programming Interface
• Service Oriented Architecture
• Open Standards

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