Open Source Difficulty LevelTM Rating
 We provide difficulty level ratings for most of the open source software that we suggest for use by small businesses. Our difficulty level ratings are modeled after the Do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement project difficulty level ratings.
Who is your typical user?
We base our rating on the average owner or partner of a small business or a CEO or CFO of a medium sized business. We expect them to be mostly using the Windows platform. We expect them to be power users of MS Office, web browser, email and several business and utility applications. They will be able to go into the command line through Start -> Run and execute minimal commands based on instructions provided. They are comfortable with desktop software installation and upgrade.
How do you assign an OSDL Rating?
We look at the following areas to arrive at our OSDL Rating:
- Feature List: Can the user find out what the software does without needing to pour through a manual?
- Hardware and Software Requirements: Can the user find out what hardware to use? What OS will this run on? And what other software needs to be installed first?
- Download: Is it easy to find and download the right software?
- Installation Documentation: Is there documentation or user stories describing the steps to go through for installation? If there are unexpected error messages, are there resources available to find out quickly how to get around it?
- Installation Process: Is the installation process straight forward?
- Getting Started: Is documentation of any sort (docs, how-to videos, screencasts) available to get past the initial unfamiliarity of a new piece of software?
- Configuration: Do you have to do a lot of configuration to get the software to do minimal basic functionality?
- Add-ons: Does the core software, without add-ons, provide the typical features needed by most users?
- User Guide: Is a user guide, help documentation or online wiki available covering major feature functionality?
- Operation: Is it easy to start and stop the application, find the logs or back-up the data?
- Community Support: Is there an active user community with good searchable archives and reasonably quick response to questions?
- Paid Support Option: Is paid support available, from the sponsor of the project or third-party, if needed?
Open Source for Small Business is DIY Business Improvement!
Our difficulty level rating of some of the open source software is shown alongside some of the DIY home improvement projects for comparison:
| Difficulty Level | Home improvement project examples | OSDL rating of open source software examples |
| Easy |
Setup DIY Lighting for a Photographic Studio.
How to Make a Concrete Walkway.
|
7-Zip |
| Moderately Easy |
How to Make a DIY Motorcycle Ramp.
How to Make DIY Storage Boxes.
|
OpenOffice |
| Moderate |
How to Make DIY Shelves.
How to make a DIY kitchen island.
|
BambooInvoice |
| Moderately Challenging |
How to Make DIY Sofa Upholstery.
How to Repair a Dripping Faucet - DIY.
|
Thunderbird with Lightning extension |
| Challenging |
DIY Hardwood Flooring.
How to Troubleshoot a Car Air Conditioner.
|
EGroupWare |
How do I use the OSDLTM Rating?
 Just like a home improvement project, to ensure success, we recommend that you take one step at a time up the difficulty level. For example, if you have not completed at least one project successfully at the 'Moderately Easy' level, you don't want to take on something at the next higher 'Moderate' level. It is not enough that you have successfully installed the software at a given level. You should also be able to get started using it, configure it to the needs of your business and be able to find and get community support for getting past issues. This will give you the confidence that you need to go up to the next level.
© SMB-Soft.com 2009.
Open Source Difficulty Level is a Trade Mark of SMB-Soft.com.
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