It happens quite often that we start off with a basic software tool like Joomla - and find that we can't get exactly what we want from it. There are times when that can get really frustrating! Why is that and what can be done about it?

There are two basic solutions to the issue:

• Work around a limitation by using more carefully the options that are available
• Develop a customized solution

The good thing about generic software is that it saves you a huge amount of money. If you assume an hourly rate of anywhere from $25 to $50 for the time spent to develop products like Joomla or Drupal, it's no surprise that the dozens of man-years of effort that went into them is worth many millions of dollars. By using these generic tools you save those millions - literally.

It's only fair to mention one other benefit of tremendous value: You are up-and-running immediately when you use a product like Joomla or Drupal. In business terms this can also be worth millions.

Of course, the downside is that you don't get exactly what you want.

In practice, this can occasionally be a terribly frustrating experience - but it shouldn't be: Open Source software can be customized. You can eventually have everything you want. And, before then, you can get almost exactly what you want using work-arounds and other options such as add-on modules and minor tweaks to the code.

The hardest part of all this is not knowing about the features available in the existing software or not knowing how they work. To find out about what you need to know, take a moment to review the Frequently Asked Questions on the BNT Solutions web site and also send us a note telling us about what you are looking for. We might know the answer or we might know where to find it.

If it's a popular question with a simple answer we can post the Question and the Answer to the FAQ section of our site. If the answer is more complicated it can be written-up as a longer article.

If the answer is not obvious and you really need a solution it might be necessary to devote some resources to finding the answer or developing a solution.

It is always possible to work towards your specific needs. The specific solution that you choose will depend on your schedule and your budget. The main advantage of starting with an Open Source solution is that you are up-and-running very quickly in exchange for a small investment and some compromise. In the long-term, though, there is no need for compromise. Your exact needs can be met because Open Source is a solid foundation for you to build on.