Monday 2 January 2017

Advantages and Disadvantages of Open Source Software

One looking to enter the foray of open source software must be aware of all that is required and what goes in to Open Source Software. There are many different reasons why one would want to join it and reasons why one may want to avoid it. On the outer side, ostensibly, it seems as a great bargain.

Open Source software is the practice of creating a new software program and allowing it to be open to modifications from all types of people in all different places. It also means that free redistribution must be encouraged, so that the software is open and it can be displayed, used, and modified by many other people. There are many reasons such as this that will allow many different people to get access to software which might eventually lead to a much better software. Though there are so many positives, there may be some negatives within it, and those must be realized in order for someone to join an open source software project. First off, it is important for someone to start off with the advantages of open source software. Open source software can be so especially beneficial because it can lead to many things and there are few barriers to entry.

It allows people with bright minds and or great ideas to share their work all over the world. The work that is shared is able to be edited, and this makes for a great investment. Those who have had a great idea but could never quite find the last link to make an amazing project may find that someone out there was able to make a crucial modification that would make that application top notch and put it over the hump. Additionally, it is very easy to destroy a project if one decides that it is not worth it or for whatever reason. These are reasons that allow for one to go ahead to listen to a friend that has been recommending open source software seeing that it can be beneficial in more than one way.

However, there is always a downside to the great side There can be a power struggle with the rights to the application. These power struggles can get quite ugly as certain people may claim an application that has ascended to the point where it can acquire a heavy amount of funds. There are also many different reasons in which it would be hard for a single application to claim a single entity. Once an application had been worked on by so many potential people, it would be increasingly hard for someone to learn how to claim it or how to share the credit and in bad times, the blame. For such reasons, someone with a great idea should be wary of joining an open source project for the simple fear of the nasty backlash that may occur as a result of miscommunication. There are many reasons to join an open source software project and many reasons to avoid it. For some, the best way is to avoid it and for others the opposite is true.

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