If talking about the open-source software, this is the one that is available for free to anyone and is usually managed by an open-source community of developers. But, you have to understand that not all free software is open source.
The difference is that the source code of this technology is open to the public and can be modified as needed. You are also free to use the documentation provided by the original creators to understand what you can do with the software. Thus, you are able to study the particular features and use them for your own benefit. Open-source software can be licensed or nor licensed. Some of the popular examples are Chromium, WordPress, Apache, Magento Open Source, Ubuntu, and others.
During the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), it is the job of developers to ensure that a client has all the relevant functionality and the data is secured when they use proprietary software. Both insider and outside threats can occur, which is why the source code of this software is protected and is not available to the public. Only the company that owns it can perform modifications. In order to use this technology, users are required to buy a valid and authenticated license, which can be bought from the original developer.
Considering that such software is the owner’s intellectual property that has legal protections and requires purchasing, you need to understand that it is limited in modifications, code access, and implementation of upgrades. This type can be purchased one time or by using the subscription model, also known as SaaS (Software as a Service), depending on the publisher’s use conditions. Some of the remarkable examples of proprietary software and technologies are Slack, Adobe Photoshop, Windows OS, macOS, Microsoft Office, Skype, and others.
To be able to pick the right option when you are looking for a company that can provide you with the software development services or if you are thinking about building your own application and choosing between open-source and proprietary options, it is essential to define their differences. You need to look at the advantages of these two choices as well as know of their disadvantages to make the right decision, so let’s look at these vital details.
As we mentioned earlier, this software is free to try, use, and modify. It is also important to point out that usually it has fewer bugs and faster implementation of patches or updates. Overall, it is considered to have better security and simpler license management. There are no IP restrictions, and you can always get access to the documentation or community forums.
Despite the attractive positive side of choosing open-source technology, you have to pay attention to the downsides as well. First of all, you may run into compatibility issues. It is possible that you will need a pack of certain drivers to be able to use this software and especially to modify it.
After choosing open-source software, you can notice that the accessibility to documentation and community forums can be a drawback for your business. Sometimes, it can be hard to find the answer to a technical issue that you have with software, which can cost you money and resources. That is why many of those companies that use such a class of technology hire technical specialists that can find the solution and deal with a problem faster. If talking more about the hidden costs, you may also need to spend your resources on additional hardware, training, support, maintenance, and so on, so you should be ready for this.
