Benefits of Using An Open Source Software

  Vivek       December 4, 2020

Open-source software comes with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance. It generally means that people can modify and share because its design is publicly accessible.

Programmer’s with access to a source code can upgrade the program by adding features or fixing the existing issues.

There are a few important reasons to choose open-source software. Let's see some of the major ones in this blog.

Cost-Effective

Open-source software is available free on the Internet without any additional licensing amount. We can save on licensing and maintenance fees. The only expenditure in some cases could be for documentation or support.

Community

Open source solutions have developed a  stronghold within established firms and growing communities around them, sharing a common desire to support and evolve a solution that benefits both the firms and communities. The united communities around the globe inspired these solutions to introduce new concepts and enhance their potentialities in a faster and effective way than other closed-source software.

The power of Crowd

The joint effort of a group of highly talented individuals working collectively generates more ideas, better development, and swift problem-solving skills.

Transparency

Open source code gives full visibility into the code base including discussions on how the communities develop features and tackle bugs. But proprietary code produced in secrecy is often met with limitations and unexpected outcomes.

Security

The preference for open-source software among people is due to the safety and stability factor it offers compared to closed-source software. Open-source software allows modification by users in terms of correcting errors or spotting omissions missed by the creators of the program. It enables programmers to fix, update, or upgrade the software without seeking permission from original creators, unlike proprietary software.

Freedom from lock-in

Using proprietary software for fundamental infrastructure is risky considering the fact of a hike in price by the developer or lack of flexibility. To avoid this lock-in, enterprises should use true open source solutions.

Stability

Open-source software is preferred over proprietary software for long- term projects by many users. Because the source code for open-source software is made available to the public by programmers, users depending on the software for crucial tasks are assured that their tools won't be lost or disbanded even if original authors stop working on them.

Training

The popularity of open-source software increases because it inspires to create better programmers. Since open-source code is accessible to everyone, students can learn how to make better software. By sharing their work with others, students get a chance to improve their skills with recommendations from other people and experts. Also provides a platform for people to share and rectify the mistakes in the program's source code, preventing others from making similar mistakes themselves.

Above all these advantages, open-source software offers long-term sustainability compared to proprietary developers who go and off the track frequently. And thanks to the communities involved in introducing innovations, so that open-source software is leading with advanced technology and meets the needs of enterprises as they evolve going forward.