Advantages and Disadvantages of using Open Source Software - Research Paper Example

 THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE Introduction An Open Source Software has certain properties that distinct it from proprietary software. In order to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of open source software it is necessary that the core idea behind open source software is discussed first. A comprehensive definition referenced from opensource.org (n.d.) goes as follows: “The distribution terms of open-source software must comply with the following criteria: 1. Free Redistribution: No restriction for selling or giving away software. License should not require royalty for sale. 2. Source Code: The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. 3. Derived Works: The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software. 4. Integrity of the Author's Source Code: The license may require derived works to carry a different name or version number from the original software. 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups: The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons. 6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor: The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. 7. Distribution of License: The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties. 8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product: The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a particular software distribution. 9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software: The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. 10. License Must Be Technology-Neutral: No provision of the license may be predicated on any individual technology or style of interface.” (The Open Source Definition http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd). Proprietary software can be defined as the opposite of open source software. The license of this kind of software is the sole property of the developer and distributor of it. Why prefer Open source software over proprietary software? In this text it is attempted to highlight the preference given to open source software for third world countries. As quoted by Nikesh Jauhari, besides having soaring prices the other key edges that are absent if a proprietary software is purchased are that the errors in it cannot be edited by anyone other than the developer, new features cannot be added to the software and the software cannot be scrutinized. This, however, is not the case with open source software. Third world countries are developing nations. Their per capita income is far lesser than that of the developed nations. The basic commodities that consume all the income of a person earning his livelihood in third world countries is on the basic needs like food and shelter. In order for persons to learn with technological advancements and excel in learning it is imperative that the newly invented advanced technological for them at very nominal costs. Open source software plays a key role in assisting individuals in third world countries as it is AVAILABLE WITHOUT ANY COST. Moreover, organizations CAN MODIFY OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE in accordance with their modular requirements. Thus instead of purchasing a new proprietary software for each individual module open software serves the purpose with very nominal or no cost at all. This results in an over all increase in the proliferation of the economy of a country as a whole. The emerging aptitude of individuals and organizations towards open source software is clearly evident among those living in the third countries. Fredrick Noronha quotes in his article as follows: “GNU/Linux, and tons of useful software that comes along with it, is clearly attracting interest from a range of quarters. From Pakistan to the UNDP, from Africa to Malaysia, and even in the Philippines or Thailand and Nepal, GNU/Linux is being closely watched, studied and adopted in a range of interesting experiments.” (Noronha Fredrick, Open-Source Software Opens New Windows to Third-World, [2002], n.p.) It is interesting to note that in India, about a million copies of Linux open source operating system were sold at $2 each by a local computer magazine. It had nothing to do with the quality of the software being lesser. (Noronha, Open-Source Software Opens New Windows to Third-World n,p,). The information minister of Pakistan is quoted as saying that one should not be surprised if in the near future all the government run computer systems would have Linux installed in them. (Noronha, Open-Source Software Opens New Windows to Third-World n.p.) Africa, Sri Lanka and Malaysia have similar stories too. Evidences from each of these countries indicate that both the normal public and the government are adopting open ware as their first preference for use. A significant advantage of open source software for third world countries is that software such as Linux has the COMPATIBILITY TO BE RUN ON OLD HARDWARE SYSTEMS. Thus, if the people in the third world countries cannot purchase new hardware for the open source software they need not to as old dumped Pentium 1 and 386 or 486 systems might come in handy for running Linux. This enhances usability of worn-out hardware and also saves further monetary expenditure by the government as well as individuals. (Opensourcetechnologies.blogspot.com 2008, n.p.) Disadvantages of Open Source Software Discussing this with special reference to the third world countries, open source software like Linux has few problems when their installation is implemented. TIME LAPSE: The post-installation processing associated with open source software is time consuming. This processing involves the fact that it takes time for both the software and the user to learn to run with each other. If the open source software is being used for commercial purposes then some revenue will have to be allocated for training of personnel. An account of the time the learning would take should also be kept in handy. (Opensourcetechnologies.blogspot.com 2008, n.p.) HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY: Linux is not compatible to all kinds of hardware. This is concerned with the latest inventions of hardware in the computer technology. The compatible drivers are eventually written by the company that is providing the open source software but this takes a little time. In the meantime some third party software might be used to enable functioning of all hardware with the open source software. (Opensourcetechnologies.blogspot.com 2008, n.p.) TECHNICAL EXPERTISE NEEDED: Open ware software like Linux is different form the regular proprietary software. Their interface is not usually known to everyone. Personnel with specific know how of handling Linux operations are required. GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS REQUIRED IN ENGLISH: Since it is imperative that the open source software be in English language for their universal adaptability it in turn becomes essential for the users of this system to have knowhow with the language of the system. English is not the native language of countries in the third world. The users of the open source software thus have to learn the English language first in order to operate and understand the system better. (Weerawarana Sanjiva; Weeratunga Jivaka, Open Source in developing Countries, [2004], 35) SUPPORTING SOFTWARE: The supporting software or applications are not available in open ware software. This corresponds to the fact that the bridge between supporting software for open ware and proprietary software is narrowing but has not eliminated as yet. It should be carefully thought whether an open ware should be adopted or not because the user might have to convert pages of current work into a “Open-ware compatible form” if the compatible software is not found. (Opensourcetechnologies.blogspot.com 2008, n.p.) OFFSHORE COMPANIES UNAWARE OF LOCAL CONDITIONS: Open source software is mostly owned by developers from the developed countries. When their software is implemented into the business environment it often needs tailoring to the business setup. Since the running and consulting companies do not have their physical presence in the targeted environment they are unable to tailor the software perfectly in line with the business environment. The communication costs that might incur as a result of making them tailor the software perfectly in line with the business requirements might be enormous. This becomes out of the reach of businesses in the third world countries since their budget is comparatively low. ( Kumar Damnish, Open-Source ERP, [n.d.], n.p.) CONCLUSION: Thus, in spite of the above mentioned disadvantages it can be concluded that open source software has a clear edge over proprietary software especially when the third world countries are concerned. The advantages of their application outweigh their disadvantages. Bibliography The Open Source Definition http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd Jauhari Nikesh. Why is GNU software better than proprietary software? Linux Poison. http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/08/why-is-gnu-software-better-than.html Noronha Frederick. May 3, 2002. Open-Source Software Opens New Windows to Third-World. Linux Journal. http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6049 Weerawarana Sanjiva; Weeratunga Jivaka, 2004. Open Source in developing Countries. 35. http://www.eldis.org/fulltext/opensource.pdf Advantages and disadvantages of the open source software such as Linux. Opensourcetechnology. http://opensourcetechnologies.blogspot.com/2008/06/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-open.html Kumar Damnish, Open-Source ERP. Software Outsourcing Company. http://www.hytechpro.com/open_source_erp.html Read More