Open source software for the creation of E-shops

Many of the currently successfully functioning e-commerce applications are based on the software development method, providing the possibility of free use of the programs’ source code. In the article there are analysed the functional capabilities of the six most - widespread open source software solutions for the creation of electronic shops – Magento, os Commerce, Zen Cart, OpenCart, PrestaShop ? VirtueMart. There is revealed their applicability for the creation of online stores of small and mediumsized trading companies and are given major guidelines for improving the specialized software platforms.