Open source code is now used by over 70 per cent of software developers in Asia, according to a new report.

The number of developers using open source in the region has surged more than 40 per cent in just three years, Evans Data Corporation revealed in a recent survey of software engineers. 

"Developers who faced difficult coding assignments had a harder time before open source software became common," said the research firm.

"This is because the developer can see every bit of [the code] to see how a [software application] functions and how it can be modified. This is much less awkward than working with proprietary binaries which operate as black boxes."

Linux has proved especially popular with Asia's many hardware manufacturers, as it gives them access to tried and tested software at a low cost.

"One of the main advantages of using Linux is that it is cheaper than the Windows solution," said Renee Chen, at Taiwanese software developer Cyberlink, which recently cooperated with Compal on a Linux-based TV phone. 

"All the right players are involved to make Linux a key component of all mobile devices, and we are looking forward to taking part in that achievement," said Liu JiTang, vice general manager at Chinese handset manufacturer Datang Mobile. 

Evans Data questioned 396 software developers throughout Asia Pacific, including China, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Some 70 per cent of respondents said they used open source modules in their applications, 19 per cent said they did not, and 10 per cent did not know. Eva ns Data's last such survey in 2003 showed that 50 per cent used open source.

Alarmed by licensing fees and the high cost of some proprietary software, numerous countries in Asia have made at least some effort to foster open source development.