Open source is a type of license agreement that allows users to freely use, modify, and integrate the work into a larger project, or create a new work based on the original. By removing barriers between innovators, open source encourages the free exchange of ideas within a community to stimulate creative, scientific, and technological progress.
Open source products include: open source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, and open content.
Today’s practice is most commonly used in the software industry. This article will focus exclusively on software applications.
By publishing an open source license to an original work, the individual or organization agrees to:
- Make the entirety of the program’s code available to the public
- Allow anyone to modify, enhance or re-engineer a program’s code
- Allow the creation of derivative works
- Allow the program to be utilized for any purpose the user wishes
An open source software license agreement contrasts with “proprietary licensing”. The back-end code of proprietary software is kept secret from the public, and anyone attempting to re-engineer or copy the code is subject to legal action by the software’s owner. More details HERE.
Why it is beneficial for Developer Publishers
- Reduces barriers to collaboration.
Brings the World Closer
Through open source communities, you can easily contact other developers from other countries, ask them questions, and learn from them, as well as the code or artwork they have written and published. This encourages global teamwork and collaboration which improves and diversifies the applications of shared technology. You will find that open source communities are created and thrive because everyone has a common goal to support and improve the code more quickly, more innovatively, and more effectively, such that the community and beyond can reap the benefits. - Various options for monetizing open source software
The most common methods are: Support and Maintenance, Dual Licensing (One open source license and one closed source license), Open Core and paid add-ons, Certification fees, Donations and Grants. - Encourages Innovation
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) fosters a culture of sharing and experimentation. You are encouraged to be innovative by coming up with new ideas, products, and methods. Be inspired by what you learn from others. Solutions and options can also be marketed much more quickly, and open source allows developers to try, test, and experiment with the best available solutions. - Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Thanks to community support, updating the source code of your solution reduces the total cost of ownership for the publisher itself – the developer. - Reliability and Security
Anyone can check an open source project for errors and inconsistencies or send suggestions for improvement.
The more people that are working together on the code, the higher is the reliability of that code. A code based on collaboration will be superior because it is easier to pick up any bugs and select the best fix. Security is also improved, as the code is thoroughly assessed and evaluated by the community of developers that have access to it. It is common to have tester groups who check new releases. Any issues that may arise are fixed diligently by the community. - Creates Opportunities & Community
As open source software brings new ideas and contributions, the developer community becomes an increasingly vibrant community that can share ideas freely. Through the community, you can meet people with similar interests. It is said that many hands make light work; similarly, it is much easier to deliver outstanding outcomes if the code is developed by an “army” of talented individuals working as a team to troubleshoot and deliver in record time. - Force multiplier
Open source is a force multiplier for your developers и возможность привлечь лучших специалистов-инноваторов. This happens in three ways: First, when communities form around shared challenges, the diversity of ideas that naturally emerges surfaces better solutions than if the marketplace of ideas was limited to just your organization, meaning developers are working smarter. Second, exposing the problem space to other interested organizations provides additional human capital to tackle your challenge, meaning the solution has more developer hours thrown at it, at no additional cost to you. Finally, “more users means more use cases being explored, which means more robust code.” - Modern software development practices
Open source software is more than just “published code”, it is based on the use of modern Digital Development Principles. - Customer feedback
Open source empowers consumers to have a combined, powerful voice in the private sector development process. Open source amplifies the voice of software consumers within the consumer-publisher relationship. Not to mention, the feedback the private company receives can go towards better informing product decisions and improving the overall product. Open source gives companies a direct line to their most passionate customers.
Why it is beneficial for innovators-developers
Innovators-developers are volunteers: companies and individuals.
- Availability of Source Code
You can see the source code of software entirely, download it, get inspired, and use the basic structure for your own projects. Open Source is highly configurable and allows you as a developer to create your own custom variants for meeting your specific needs and requirements. - Availability of Software
Everyone can download and use open source software. There are no limitations regarding the user group or intended audience, purpose, frequency of use, and devices on which open source software can be installed. There are no license fees to pay, either. - Educational Possibilities
Open source is vital to the educational advancement of all because both information and resources are now freely available. You can learn from other developers how they are creating code and using the software that they have shared through open source. - Encourages Innovation
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) fosters a culture of sharing and experimentation. You are encouraged to be innovative by coming up with new ideas, products, and methods. Be inspired by what you learn from others. Solutions and options can also be marketed much more quickly, and open source allows developers to try, test, and experiment with the best available solutions. - Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
With open source code, there are no license or usage fees. As a commercial service, costs apply only to implementation, setup, configuration, maintenance, documentation, and support services. - The opportunity to participate in the maintenance and development of the project that interests you.
If any of the solutions interests you, or you think that it has a good perspective for development, or you can adapt the software to the needs of citizens, authorities, businesses or NGO-s in Moldova, then you can:- submit suggested improvements as Pull Requests (GitHub), or
- publish the modification as your own Fork (Github) for users with similar preferences.
Why is it beneficial for government bodies
State agencies, municipalities and local governments are potentially one of the largest group users of open source solutions.
- Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
With open source code, there are no license or usage fees. As a commercial service, costs apply only to implementation, setup, configuration, maintenance, documentation, and support services. - Encourages Innovation
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) fosters a culture of sharing and experimentation. You are encouraged to be innovative by coming up with new ideas, products, and methods. Be inspired by what you learn from others. Solutions and options can also be marketed much more quickly, and open source allows developers to try, test, and experiment with the best available solutions. - Reliability and Security
Anyone can check an open source project for errors and inconsistencies or send suggestions for improvement.
The more people that are working together on the code, the higher is the reliability of that code. A code based on collaboration will be superior because it is easier to pick up any bugs and select the best fix. Security is also improved, as the code is thoroughly assessed and evaluated by the community of developers that have access to it. It is common to have tester groups who check new releases. Any issues that may arise are fixed diligently by the community. - No dependency on one developer.
- Reduces the likelihood of repetitive or excess spending on the creation of similar products by various government agencies.
Why is it beneficial for users
- Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
With open source code, there are no license or usage fees. As a commercial service, costs apply only to implementation, setup, configuration, maintenance, documentation, and support services. - Reduced dependency on the developer
in the case of proprietary software, you are completely dependent on the policies and capabilities of the software developer. There is a full opportunity to refine open source software to fit your needs. - Feedback from the developer or community
The ability to send your opinion or suggestion to the community and receive a response to it.
