What is Open-Source?

The term “open source” originally referred to the public accessibility of design, allowing modification and sharing. Initially used in software development, it now represents a broader set of values known as “the open source way.” Open source initiatives prioritize principles like open exchange, collaborative participation, transparency, meritocracy, and community-oriented development. In software creation, making code open-source or closed-source and determining the technical blueprint for a program, play crucial roles when releasing the finished product to the public.

What Exactly is Open-Source Software?

Open source software refers to programs whose source code is accessible for inspection, modification, and enhancement by anyone. Unlike proprietary software like Microsoft Word or Adobe Illustrator, open-source software is developed through collaborative efforts, allowing users to examine, alter, and redistribute it freely. The term extends to a community-based approach to creating intellectual property, emphasizing inclusiveness, transparency, and regular public updates. In contrast to closed-source applications, open-source software encourages open collaboration, providing users the flexibility to adapt and redistribute the software as needed. This collaborative, community-driven model contrasts traditional software applications’ closed, proprietary nature.

What’s the Difference Between Open-Source Software and Other Types of Software?

Distinguishing open-source software from other types involves the accessibility and control of source code. Proprietary or closed-source software is exclusively modifiable by its creators, requiring user agreement to predefined terms. In contrast, open source software, exemplified by LibreOffice and GNU Image Manipulation Program, offers freely accessible source code, promoting collaboration, learning, and modification. 

Open source licenses differ significantly from proprietary licenses, granting users the freedom to use, study, modify, and distribute the software. While open source is often cost-free and encourages collaborative improvements, it may lack user-friendliness and robust technical support. Although potentially stable and supported, closed-source software often comes with a price tag and limited user modification capabilities. Understanding these differences empowers users to choose the software that aligns with their specific needs.

Let’s compare open-source and closed-source software:

Price	Accessible at minimal or no licensing and usage fees.	The expense fluctuates depending on the software’s scale.
Freedom to customize	Fully adaptable, according to the open source license, and requires in-house expertise.	Requests for changes, encompassing bug fixes, features, and enhancements, must be submitted to the software-selling company.
User-friendliness	Often less user-friendly, though this can vary based on the project’s objectives and the individuals overseeing it.	Generally more user-friendly. As a profit-driven product, ease of adoption and user experience are frequently primary considerations.
After-sales support	Certain widely used open-source software often comes with customer support. Alternatively, users can seek assistance from user forums and mailing lists.	Specialized support teams are established, and the service level agreement (SLA) regulates the extent of service provided.
Security	The source code is open for examination by anyone, a concept based on the belief that increased inspection reduces the likelihood of bugs. Despite this theory, security vulnerabilities may still exist, presenting notable risks.	The software distributor or owner, assures a specified support level per the SLA terms. Due to the closed source code, potential security concerns may arise. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the software distributor to address and rectify any identified issues.
Vendor lock-in	Absence of vendor lock-in due to associated costs. However, integration into systems may establish a technical dependency.	Typically, significant investments are made in proprietary software. Transitioning to a different vendor or adopting an open-source solution can incur substantial costs in many instances.
Stability	The determination of this will rely on factors such as the existing user base, the entities overseeing the software, and the duration of its presence in the market.	Established, market-driven solutions tend to be more stable. New products encounter comparable challenges to open-source options. If a distributor discontinues an application, customers may face significant challenges.
Popularity	Certain open-source solutions, such as Linux and Apache, have gained immense popularity and even lead in the market.	In certain industries, proprietary software has more popularity, particularly if it has a longstanding presence in the market.
Total cost of ownership (TCO)	TCO is lower upfront due to minimal or no usage costs, contingent on the required level of maintenance.	TCO is significantly higher and relies on the size of the user base.
Community participation	The core of open source lies in the community’s engagement in software development, review, critique, and enhancement.	Closed community.
Interoperability with other open-source software	This varies based on the group’s maintenance level and goals but generally tends to be superior to closed-source software.	This will depend on the development standards.
Tax calculation	Challenging due to the absence of a defined monetary value.	Definite.
Enhancements or new features	Users can develop it as needed.	Requests must be submitted to the software owner.
Suitability for production environment	OSS may lack robust technical design and testing in a large-scale production environment.	While most proprietary software undergoes extensive testing, challenges may still arise when deployed in a production environment.
­Financial institution considerations	The financial industry typically steers clear of open-source solutions. If considered, a thorough vetting process is necessary.	Financial institutions tend to favor proprietary software.
Warranty	No warranty is available.	Ideal for companies with security policies demanding a warranty and liability indemnity.

Popular open-source software applications:

– The Linux operating system, offers an open-source alternative to Unix.

– Mozilla Firefox, an open-source web browser initially rooted in Netscape Navigator.

– LibreOffice, a suite of productivity apps rivaling Microsoft Office.

– GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), an open-source alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

– VLC Media Player, a cross-platform application for video viewing.

Popular Open-Source PIM Systems:

–Icecat an open-source PIM system, provides comprehensive product information management for efficient catalog management.

– Akeneo, a widely used open-source PIM platform, allows businesses to centralize and unify product information for consistent and accurate content.

– Pimcore is an open-source PIM solution that offers a versatile platform for managing digital assets, product data, and customer experiences seamlessly.

Moreover, open-source programs are crucial in network, enterprise, and cloud computing. The commonly cited categories of open-source software in organizational deployments include programming languages and frameworks, databases and data technologies, operating systems, Git-based public repositories, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Deep Learning frameworks.

Final Thoughts

While open source promotes cost-free collaboration, it may lack user-friendliness. Proprietary software, with costs, offers stability and support. At the end of the day, everything comes down to your specific business needs. But we hope that with this blog post, we will help you make the best and most informed choice on which software to choose!