Open Source Collaboration: A Primer

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Most software used today is proprietary or closed source software. This includes products from Microsoft, Adobe, Google, and many others. Within the end user license agreement (EULA) you agree to before using the software, there are terms saying you will not attempt to view, alter, or change the software code in any way. Additionally, you are agreeing you will only use the software a certain way. This means if you want to alter the software to better fit your needs or fix a software bug, your only option is to suggest a feature or report the bug to the publisher. 

Open source is a completely different approach to creating and using software. Instead of locking down the source code and specifying how you can use the software, the code is freely available online and you can change it however you want. In many cases open source license agreements grant you complete freedom over the code and what you do with it, but this isn't always the case. There may be stipulations that require you share the changes you made with the community or offer the software without any license fees. 

Why would you want to use an open source product when so many great options are already available? There are many benefits to open source software, even if you have no interest in programming.

  •  Price: Most open source software can be used for free or much lower prices than proprietary alternatives. This is a breath of fresh air compared to the subscription plans used by most big software publishers where you lose access to the software if you no longer wish to pay the monthly or yearly fees. 
  • Control: You have total control over the software you use. Want to add/remove a feature or fix a bug? Go right ahead. There is also no concern the software will eventually become unsupported when the next big release comes as you will always have access to make changes.
  • Security: With access to the source code you are able to see everything the software is doing. When dealing with confidential information, ensuring your software isn't sending out any information or giving unauthorized users access could be very important.

There are benefits to open source software but the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Some downsides to open source software include:

  • Support: Most proprietary software will come with professional support. This is a big advantage for large companies who want to avoid software issues causing costly downtime. Open source software often requires the user to troubleshoot the issue or use community forums for help.
  • Security: While you have access to the code to ensure the security of your software, most open source software is developed by large communities. It wouldn't be hard for a community developer to add malicious code that could compromise the security or stability of the software. Unless you have the time and knowledge to review the code, you're relying on the community to police itself.
  • Usability: Companies like Microsoft and Adobe spend a lot of money ensuring their products are user friendly for the average person. In many cases, open source software will be less user friendly and less polished than proprietary alternatives.

Should you or your company use open source software? Only you can make that decision. There are pros and cons to open source software that could make it great for one application and terrible for another. Considering type of work being done, skill level of the average user, and many other factors will help make that decision.  


Links:

https://opensource.com/ 

https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/open-source/what-is-open-source

https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/engineering/how-to-use-open-source-software-features-main-software-types-and-selection-advice/

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