Table of Contents
Open Source Software
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Proprietary Software
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Comparison between Open Source and proprietary software
Open Source Software vs. proprietary software cost:
Development:
Support:
Flexibility:
Accessibility
Openness
Dependability
Conclusion:
Open Source Software
Open Source software refers to software that is openly available online to anyone who wants to modify it from the original design. This term was originally used to describe a particular way of creating computer programs. Open source today refers to a wider set of values that we call the open-source way. Open source products and initiatives are open to collaboration, rapid prototyping and meritocracy. Open source code is often created in a collaborative effort by programmers to improve the code and then share their changes with the community. Open source software refers to software that is open source. Anyone can modify, improve, and inspect the source code. Programmers who have access can modify or add features to a program.
Advantages:
Software users will benefit from the open source collaboration approach, which allows them to fix errors quicker.
The release of new features is more frequent.
Software that is written by more programmers can be more stable and will not contain errors.
Security updates can be implemented quicker than other proprietary software programs.
Open-source software has its disadvantages. Linux, an open-source operating system, is not something you can learn in one day. They are difficult to learn and require a lot of training. There are also many parallel developments in open-source software. This can lead to confusion about which functionalities are available in different versions.
The latest hardware may not be compatible with the open-source software platform. Third-party drivers are required.
Proprietary Software
Proprietary computer software is software that is owned by a publisher or other person. They usually retain copyright of the source codes, sometimes patent rights. It can be software owned by an individual, a company or the person who developed it. Sometimes, proprietary software is also known as closed source software or commercial. Software programs that are proprietary to their publishers or developers and can’t be copied or distributed without their license agreements. Many of the best commercial software programs is proprietary. It is subject to strict restrictions and the source code is kept confidential almost all the time. Although restrictions can vary depending on the license, the most common requirement is that the license copy be included. GNU Public License (GPL), which is the most popular license, also requires that source code be freely made available if modified versions of software are distributed.
Advantages:Proprietary software companies use their profits to re-invest in the continuation of the product. If the creator or owner of a proprietary software program goes out-of-business, compatibility updates and authorization servers will cease to work. The software then becomes obsolete. * Proprietary OS X and Windows make the user experience easier and smoother. Open source offers more options than traditional products, but users must customize the system and set preferences. * The multiplier Effect is when more people become interested in a product based on their increasing use. Software designed around an operating platform will have more developers. This makes it easier for users to switch operating systems. Large companies can advertise proprietary systems, which can help them attract users.
The licensing fee is charged by proprietary software. Developers make their living selling their products and charge for their access. Sometimes these license fees are substantial. * Software that is proprietary requires support and updates from the developer.
Depending on how large the development team is, updates may take a while to arrive and may also take time to fix security holes or other issues. You may also lose support and updates if your primary developer is no longer available. * Proprietary systems rely on their development team for identifying potential problems or worse security loopholes. Many proprietary developers rely on security through anonymity to hide security flaws and prevent others from using them. * Open-source software is generally more customizable than proprietary systems. In many cases, it is the same thing that is seen with proprietary software packages.
Comparison between Open Source and proprietary software
Open source software is software whose source codes — the medium where programmers create, modify and distribute software — are freely available online. In contrast, proprietary commercial software source codes are often kept confidential. Only original authors can legally modify, copy, or inspect proprietary software. Computer users must sign a license that is displayed when they first run the software to agree not to do anything that the authors of the software have not permitted. Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and other proprietary software are examples. Open source software offers a different approach. Open source software’s developers make their source code accessible to anyone who is interested in viewing it, changing it, learning from it, and sharing it. LibreOffice is an example of open source software. Open source software is not the same as proprietary software. Users must agree to the terms of the license, but they are very different from proprietary software.
Open Source Software Cost vs. proprietary Software Cost: This could represent the greatest difference between both types. Closed source software usually has some cost. Closed source pricing includes the right of use, regardless of whether the cost is an upfront or monthly fee. Open source, by contrast, doesn’t come with any additional costs. There may be additional costs for assistance, features or additional functionality. These factors make open and closed source equal. Closed-source software comes at a high price, whereas open-source software is relatively inexpensive but can have additional costs. *
Development:Closed-source software generally handles the development of the software. This allows them to decide whether or not they will continue their development. Open source development can be done by’mass collaborative’. Therefore, the community can be active and continue to develop and fix problems.
Support: Closed-source software will typically have a dedicated FAQ and manuals as well as contact options. Support tickets can be submitted if there is a problem. Most cases will get back to you within one business day. These things will all be well-organized and documented. Open-source software has fewer support options than traditional software. For example, a FAQ that is organized and well documented, or the possibility of contacting an expert may not exist. You have a few options for support: forums, articles, hiring experts, and hiring them.
Flexibility: Closed-source software is not as flexible as its creators expected. Because of the limitations in the function set, flexibility is only available at the front-end. This could cause warranty voids or even worse problems. Open source software is more flexible than traditional programs. Open source software allows you to modify and add features or modifications from the community. Both options are possible, depending on how flexible you need to be. Open source is more flexible than other code options and allows for easier scaling.
Accessibility
Software that is proprietary to their companies can be obtained from them. Sometimes, free trial versions can be downloaded and tested. OSS can be freely downloaded from the internet. Several OSS have been made available as a limited, proprietary software. Developers and the online community are available for support 24X7.
TransparencyPS cannot give a view of the internal structures. It only provides interfaces for users to interact with it. The user is not able to see any internal processing, or any other details.
The product includes the source code to OSS. Anybody can view, modify and build a customized version the original product. This allows you to see the product’s core structures. *
ReliabilityPS was developed only by vendor-specific teams. Outlets are only allowed to sell finished products. It is guaranteed that the product is authenticated and not modified in any way. OSS are readily available on a wide range of unofficial websites. Although most distributions can be modified, they all have the same reliability in terms performance, security and robustness. It is possible to add/modify components but they may not work well together and eventually cause product degrading.
Conclusion: The Open source and proprietary softwares (OSS) have different importance and values. Because of the free licenses and codes distributions, Open Source software is replacing proprietary software. OSS has great potential for libraries. Library information centres should investigate these concepts to understand their value and importance.
