Is Open Source Software Inherently Superior? An Honest Assessment

Posted by EasyIT on August 24th, 2016

I often get asked a lot of questions about open source software, as many people assume that it is inherently superior to closed source. That isn't necessarily the case. That's why I'm going to delve into the advantages and disadvantages of open source software, as well as give you tips on how to maximize its effectiveness. Please contact us if you have any more questions, or if you're simply interested in the best IT Support Services Melbourne has to offer. We'll help you understand why open source superiority is a more complex discussion than many want to admit.

Benefits Of Open Source

Open source software is often free to use and download, which makes it a cost-effective solution to expensive office software investment. Many of these free open source software programs are designed to mimic commonly used programs, to make them easier to understand and more effective as a complete replacement program.

And for companies that have their own programmers or who are willing to find some, open source is great because you can adapt the coding in whatever way you want. There should be a download link for the source file of the program. Once your programmers have access to it, they can make any kinds of adjustments and tweaks they want.

This is a great benefit for any company that wants to add their own personal touch to their software. I've seen some great changes to open source programs that made them more powerful than the programs they were designed to replace.

Downsides To Open Source

One problem that plagues many open source programs is instability. I've installed multiple open source programs on my own computer, and watched in horror as they crashed repeatedly. The problem here is that many of these programs are labors of love by one person. While this person is undoubtedly a skilled programmer with lots of dedication to the project, it might be easy for them to make a programming mistake that they don't catch.

As a result, software support for open source programs can also be a major annoyance. Typically, an open source programmer has a side job and may not have time to dedicate to your problem. That doesn't mean they'll ignore you or won't want to help, but they will simply lack the resources to address every problem as it occurs.

Another problem is a lack of compatibility between programs. While many replacement programs will do their best to integrate projects started in closed source programs, there is an inherent instability to this compatibility that may make open source programs harder to use.

Getting The Most Out Of It

Beyond the benefits and downsides of open source software lies a few simple ways that you can maximize its success. I've found that hiring programmers who understand its coding and who are willing to work with it will help make it more effective for you.

Let's take a program like “Open Office” as an example. Though free, you may not like the way that the program automatically makes its file extension the default option. A good programmer could not only eliminate this default option from the program, but find a way to make “Windows Office” files more compatible with “Open Office.”

Hopefully, you have a better idea of how to maximize your open source software success. I think I've given you a pretty good idea of how I feel, but if you need any more Melbourne IT support information or simply want to hire IT Managed Services In Melbourne, please reach out to us today. We have years of experience helping companies like you maximize their IT success. I know that we have what it takes to help you succeed.