Open Source: What it Means, How it Works, Example

What Is Open Source?

Open source refers to a software program or platform with source code that is readily accessible and can be modified or enhanced by anyone.

Open source access grants users of an application permission to fix broken links, enhance the design, or improve the original code.

Open source software (OSS) hubs, such as GitHub, are an example of a kind of open collaboration that can broaden design perspectives beyond those of a single company or design work group.

Open source practices can also lead to considerable savings for consumers. Many open source offerings are provided for free, relying on a shareware or donation model rather than a purchase price.

Understanding Open Source

Open source is a perfect illustration of the adage “It takes a village to raise a child.” To perfect the usability of a product, multiple minds and talents are needed for various areas of a software product’s functionality.

Platforms developed and built on user collaboration can work better and have fewer bugs than those built by a single entity. Software developers who encourage the open source concept believe that, by giving any interested party the ability to modify a product’s source code, the application will be more usable and error-free over the long term.

Mozilla Firefox, Linux, WordPress, Bitcoin, and Android are popular examples of open source projects. By making their source codes available to all, open source products serve as educational tools for technology students who study the codes, learn from them, and opt to create even better codes.

Hence, better and more innovative applications are created from the foundation of previous open source applications. 

Open Source Licensing

Open source promotes the free redistribution of source codes. Hence, it is also called free software. The source code creates the built-in functionality that guides how a software application works.

Traditionally, most software or apps that are purchased have codes that can be legally manipulated or modified only by the original creators—usually an individual, team, or organization.

This type of software is called proprietary software or closed source software. Proprietary software is equipped with licenses that compel its users to agree to guidelines erected by the original creator. It also can be expensive to buy.

Open source licenses differ from proprietary licenses in that users have to agree to the rules associated with modifying, using, and distributing the software.

For example, some open source licenses stipulate that if a user alters and distributes a program to others, they must also distribute the source code without charging a licensing fee.

Open Source Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• Because no permission is required when using an open source software application, programmers can usually fix and upgrade an application’s source code in less time than it could take with closed source. With closed source programs, the company or creators of the code have to be notified and users may have to wait a considerable amount of time before any changes have been made to the application.
• In fintech areas such as big data, blockchain technology, and cloud computing, innovation is driven by a collaborative open source channel. Due to the tremendous amount of data that emerging technology feeds from, companies are adapting to open source techniques and sharing the work load with external users who can contribute and find new possibilities for the shared data.
• The spirit of open source has spread beyond contributing to code. Technology innovators, developers, and programmers have devised applications to support collaboration among users all over the world in all sorts of areas, including peer-to-peer insurance.

Disadvantages

• Security can be at risk with open source software due to its accessibility by those who potentially would exploit code for malicious purposes.
• No one person or organization is necessarily responsible for the back end of an open source software program. So a flaw or breach may not be addressed until a user or coder happens to find it.
• If an open source program isn't being updated or improved, it could become unreliable, ineffective, and potentially unusable by some.

The Bottom Line

Open source refers to making the source code of software programs and platforms accessible by all. Individuals are invited to edit the code with the purpose of improving programs for users' benefit. Closed source software is proprietary and accessible by only its creator.

Open source software has been involved with a variety of well-known programs and projects, including the Firefox browser, the WordPress content management system, and the Android operating system.