Advantages of Open Source Sofware
- The availability of the source code and the right to modify it is very important. It enables the unlimited tuning and improvement of a software product. It also makes it possible to port the code to new hardware, to adapt it to changing conditions, and to reach a detailed understanding of how the system works. This is why many experts are reaching the conclusion that to really extend the lifetime of an application, it must be available in source form. In fact, no binary-only application more than 10 years old now survives in unmodified form, while several open source software systems from the 1980s are still in widespread use (although in many cases conveniently adapted to new environments). Source code availability also makes it much easier to isolate bugs, and (for a programmer) to fix them.
- The right to redistribute modifications and improvements to the code, and to reuse other open source code, permits all the advantages due to the modifiability of the software to be shared by large communities. This is usually the point that differentiates open source software licences from ``nearly free'' ones. In substance, the fact that redistribution rights cannot be revoked, and that they are universal, is what attracts a substantial crowd of developers to work around open source software projects.
- The right to use the software in any way. This, combined with redistribution rights, ensures (if the software is useful enough), a large population of users, which helps in turn to build up a market for support and customization of the software, which can only attract more and more developers to work in the project. This in turn helps to improve the quality of the product, and to improve its functionality. Which, once more, will cause more and more users to give the product a try, and probably to use it regularly.
11 comments:
this advantage have help us to do our assignment... ermmm, why don't have the diadvantage???
woo..so mny of advntge..cn u give me reason why OSOS still not famous then Window??
Disadvantages
1. Just as development is free and encouraged in open source, it is also not compulsory. Closed source software companies pay salaries to people to develop the software and therefore development is pretty much guaranteed.
2. Quite a large disadvantage to open source software is that as so many developments are going on at the same time it is hard to keep track of which version is the most up to date. This is also due to the fact that advertising is not as prominent in the open source industry, mainly because most developers are non-profit making. This lack of advertising and frequency of developments can sometimes cause confusion of which product is the most up to date.
3. There is an issue where the line between open and closed source blurs. Many open source projects are developed from many different peoples codes and this can make it a struggle to effectively sort out who's is who's. It also increases the risk that a bit of closed source code might find itself in there and therefore render the project illegal. However. the open source licensing is geared up to help the contributor.
4. Many businesses opt for a closed source alternative when it comes to their server. Some of their issues are outlined at the Microsoft Compare website. This presentation however is from a closed source software company and they may be slightly favourable to their product. They claim that Microsoft offer increased reliability, security, choice, manageability and interoperability. They back this up with case study examples of government organizations that use their Microsoft server 2003 product.
Because many people dunno how to use Linux, and windows is familiar for normal users.
is that linux is the one os?cn u guys give me example of other os?
OpenOffice.org,
KOffice,
NeoOffice,
GNOME....
thank u for info (^_^)
Good。。。。
ermmm is that enough for student to learn about this advantage??? huhu....
welcome guys..as wat we know we share here...
On the conclusion, we can share the info on this advantage of open source... u all can know this information for u assgnment or works... thank u :)
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