The Technology Powering Association DataZone
The technology that powers Association DataZone‘s Web-based tools is our own proprietary software built utilizing the huge efficiencies the full enterprise open source software stack known as LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). For writing the software, we rely on MySQL, the world's most popular open source database, and PHP, a highly robust and scalable open-source server-side scripting language especially suited for Web development. The result is a fast, easy-to-use and reliable software application developed and marketed at a fraction of the cost of proprietary software systems such as Oracle, IBM DB2 or Microsoft SQL. As a result, cost savings are passed on directly to the customer.

Compared with traditional software, custom software developed utilizing open source offers several advantages:

Reliability and Performance. A vast community of software developers tests open source software across a range of platforms and uses before it is certified for production. Any bugs are found and fixed quickly.

Complete Customization. Because our developers have access to source code, they have a thorough understanding of the system. As a result, they can also make modifications or performance enhancements as necessary to meet client-specific needs.

Ease of Deployment. Because open source software focuses on the most essential capabilities, as opposed to having hundreds of rarely used features, installation and deployment is often easier than proprietary software.

Freedom from Platform Lock-In. By providing ready access to source code, open source ensures freedom, thereby preventing lock-in to a single company or platform. Changes can be made quickly, easily and inexpensively without the typical add-in surcharges of other proprietary software systems.

Security. Because open source software is out in the open, it is typically more secure and suffers fewer vulnerability attacks than proprietary software. When a problem is uncovered, it is addressed quickly by an army of developers.

What is most important, however, is that MySQL has been proven time and again in government organizations, small businesses and the largest of corporations. Over five million installations use MySQL to power high-volume Web sites and other critical business systems—including industry-leaders like Yahoo, The Associated Press, Google, NASA, Sabre Holdings and Suzuki.

To learn more about how Association DataZone can help your association,
contact Robin Wedewer at (410) 414-5718.