Why Open Source is Important
The open source movement is responsible for many of the innovations we see today. It offers a number of benefits, including cost savings and reliability.
Open source software also enables developers to feel that their work has value, which helps prevent job burnout. This translates into greater employee satisfaction and lower turnover rates.
It encourages innovation
When developers are able to add new features to their software without having to wait for an outside vendor, they can innovate faster. This also allows them to scale the new technologies quickly to a larger audience.
This openness also encourages a community of users and developers to form around the software. This community helps test and maintain the code, and can even shape its future direction. This is why most open source applications have their own user groups and meetups.
Additionally, many people prefer open source software because it gives them more control over the product. This is especially important for people who aren’t programmers, because they can use the software to suit their needs and make changes as needed. This is also beneficial for businesses, as they can use the software to solve their own problems instead of waiting for a vendor to come up with a solution. This also enables companies to innovate faster.
It saves money
One of the biggest benefits of open source software is that it is often free or cheaper than proprietary software. This saves businesses money on license and maintenance fees. It also helps companies avoid the need to buy more hardware to run the software.
Another benefit is that open source programs can be modified by any user. This gives them more flexibility and scalability than their counterparts. This allows businesses to start small with community versions and then upgrade to commercially-supported solutions as their business needs grow.
While open source software is more cost-effective, it requires a certain level of technical knowledge to use and implement. This is why it’s important to invest in training your team before implementing any new software. In addition, the open source community is always on the lookout for errors or bugs in the code of existing programs. This can help users to fix these mistakes before they cause more serious problems.
It is more reliable
While many people mistakenly think that open source software is less reliable than a commercial solution, this is not always the case. When it comes to well-established open source projects, hundreds to thousands of independent programmers work together to make the software as stable and secure as possible. This is a major advantage over proprietary code, which relies on the company or author that created it to continue working on it and maintaining it.
It is also important to remember that a disgruntled or bribed employee can still insert Trojan horses into proprietary software, but this is far less likely to happen in open source programs. The fact that so many eyes are on the code also makes it much easier to spot vulnerabilities and fix them quickly, something a proprietary vendor can’t do. For these reasons, companies should develop a nuanced understanding of open source. This includes a solid strategy for implementation, training and support.
It is safer
The fact that open source software is accessible to anyone allows would-be attackers to comb through its code to look for vulnerabilities. This gives it an advantage over closed source software, as it is often harder to check and fix a program’s errors without the permission of the author.
Programmers tend to write their code for two audiences: the computers that are going to execute it and other programmers who might update, adapt or maintain it at a later date. This approach results in robust, tried and tested software that powers much of the internet.
The community of users also offers a valuable source of feedback, making it easier for developers to spot and process problems that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. This can make software more stable and secure, which is important for businesses that rely on it. This is why some companies choose to use only open source software.
