Open Source Software VS Proprietary Software

A common question arises between potential clients is about pros and cons of using Open Software vs Proprietary Software. In today's article, we'll look at some of the biggest factors we need to consider when choosing your Content Management System.

What is Open Source Software?

Open Source Software is software that has been developed by lots of individuals for free on a volunteer basis. The Source Code is made available for other people to use and alter, which often makes it very appealing for developers who don't want to build something from scratch.

What is Proprietary Software?

Proprietary Software is owned by the individual or company that commissioned or developed it. In this instance the source code is kept secret because this is the company's competitive edge over others in the industry. The software that runs your Bloomtools website and Database Marketing is an example of proprietary software. It has been developed in-house by their own team of developers and it is their unique design which sets them apart from other website developers that use the open source Wordpress or Joomla CMS applications that other website developers may use.

The Cost

Contrary to what the name may suggest, Open Source Software is not necessarily free. Although it is developed for free by volunteers, developers can, and do, charge for Open Source Software. There is almost always a cost to integrate your website design into an Open Source CMS and you may find that there are a number of hidden costs with using Open Source Software, including charges for any simple customizations you may need. Furthermore, a business needs to update their website every two to three years. This means that you will need to either pay someone to update your current website (which could be a massive job depending on how fast the Internet has advanced) or get a whole new website built. This costs money.

A proprietary software company is likely to look more expensive at first. After all, these companies have invested a lot of money in developing the source code from scratch and are offering a solution that is unlike anything else on the market. However you may actually find that the price evens out after a few years, particularly if you require regular updates to the software that is running your website. Companies like Bloomtools take it upon themselves to keep the software at the forefront of technology, so updates are regularly released to our clients for free - a service you would have to pay for if you were using Open Source Code. Furthermore, it takes a lot less effort to do an overhaul of an old website. In most cases, it's only the website skin that needs replacing because the software is already the most up-to-date version.

When Security Matters

Because the original source code of Open Source Software is readily available, they leave themselves open to hackers to find holes in the code which could compromise the security of your website. Furthermore, because your website developer did not create the software, they are not responsible for any security holes in the source code. If your website is hacked, you will then have to pay more money to your website developer to get it fixed.

On the other hand, proprietary software developers are fully responsible for the security of the application. At Bloomtools, their team are constantly monitoring any potential malicious attacks and researching new ways to prevent against possible future attacks.

Research

Of course, whenever you are about to make a big investment, you should always do your research. Each person's ideal solution is likely to be different to the next. A university student with limited funds who just wants a unique website to share with their friends and family are likely to find the solution they need in Open Source Software. However, a large company that stores sensitive data will require a more sophisticated solution that is always kept at the forefront of technology.

Open Source Software vs Proprietary Software

Open Source Software – It tend to be lower cost, since development is done by a community of volunteers, your costs don’t need to cover a company’s development expenses. However, it has its disadvantages as well. Support & Maintenance is always the shortcoming for open-source software. You need to be self-motivated to search for the answer from the forum as no qualified support available.

Besides, some open source software features uncertainty which caused IT companies’ required longer time during deployment phase. The is no guarantee of updates toward open source software.

Proprietary Software – The software normally offer a stable system support. The software is safe and virus free. The system updates and roadmap of software are usually provided to the end user. The drawback of proprietary software usually related to the cost of the software. Any upgrade version required a fee.

Here is a small teaser video of Software Wars.