What is Open-Source software?
Before we get into what open-source software is, let me first tell you what open-source means. Suppose you develop an app. Of course, you will make that app by coding it in any computer language you like. That code will be called the source code of your app. Then you have two options, you can either make the source code available to the general public so that they can modify, enhance or change the source code according to them, or you can choose to keep the source code private so that no one can see it but you, the developer. The software whose code is available to the general public is called open-source software and vice versa is known as closed-source software or 'Proprietary Software'. Linux is a very good example of an open-source operating system, while Windows and mac os are examples of closed-source or proprietary operating systems.
Benefits of open-source software
So why are open-source projects beneficial you might ask? Because the source code of open-source apps is available to the general public, anyone can see what's written in the code. So anyone with the knowledge of the language in which the app is written can tell whether the app is safe or has some malicious code inside it, thus reducing the chance of the app being malware, spyware, adware, etc. by many folds. Also, as the code is available to the public, chances are that any bugs or glitches present in open-source software would be fixed much more quickly than those present in closed-source or proprietary software.
PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE | OPEN-SOURCE ALTERNATIVES |
Adobe Photoshop | |
Google Chrome | |
Microsoft Office | |
Windows | Linux (Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Manjaro Linux and many more) |
Some disadvantages of open-source software
While the open-source software has many advantages, it also has some quirks of its own. In comparison to proprietary software, open-source projects can be a bit more difficult to use. It might not be the case every time, but many times people find it easier to use proprietary software rather than open-source software due to its complexity (again, not always the case). Also, many a time open-source projects might not be fully optimized for your work environment, or for your operating system. Some just might not provide the same level of functionality as proprietary software, thus leaving an advanced user no choice but to migrate to the closed-source world. They may also not fully support some of the drivers required for them to function properly.
Conclusion
Open-source software has both its benefits and disadvantages. But we should remember that we live in a world which is being dominated by closed-source software for a long time! Developers have been optimizing their apps for Windows and mac os. So some problems are bound to arise when using the software in Linux. But due to the rising privacy concerns and the vast development in the open-source community in recent years, the open-source market is expanding rapidly. Linux is becoming the daily driver for more and more people and the market share of Windows has been dropping steadily in recent years. So maybe in the future, we will see more and more open-source projects being accepted by the public, thus making the world a more secure place online.
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