Open source developments are becoming a significant economic force, with strongly positive effects. They are akin to the equally strongly positive effects of the free exchange of scientific knowledge, something that is being increasingly stifled by commercialisation. Sadly, the most important factor about open source is often seen to be that it is free. In fact, the most important factor about open source is that it encourages a far more efficient model for the creation of software. Quite apart from the huge gains that are made in reducing sales and marketing costs, the actual process whereby open source is written is mutually beneficial and promotes efficiency. Open source projects are not islands. Many have active links with other projects in complementary areas. Even those that don't usually place high value on the open source community and frequently seek solutions to problems through the use of material already developed in another project. This is the kind of thing that has huge potential.