Open Source is very common word now a days, but it seems that it’s mostly misinterpreted word. At least after viewing some of my students presentation or group discussion (in IT Genius) its proved my assumption is correct in this part of world. Before moving to description about open source, first we have to know what is proprietary software??
Well we can say that a proprietary software is a software coming with copyright license. User normally can not view code of proprietary software. Neither he can share the software legally. User have to pay for individual copy of such software’s . Example.. All well known Microsoft product from various windows operating systems to Office, Photoshop, Coraldraw,Tally etc . User require a license to use it(Remember to use it). It can be also called as closed source software, as anyone cannot find easily how photoshop or windows’s code is written. Normally all software with serial Key can be put into the category of proprietary software.
What is wrong with proprietary software, why is it untouchable? Let’s discuss it with one example. Now imagine that you have purchased a bike. What it means in proprietary software term.
You can’t get the design of your bike in advance.
You have just license to ride your bike, you are not owner of bike.
Company which had manufactured this bike is the owner of bike.
You can’t share it with your friends.
You never get chance to view internal structure of your bike.
If you have any problem with your bike, you have to go to official service provider of your bike. Means even if you stuck in mid way, you can’t use screw driver nor can repair it with local garage .
You can’t further sell your bike.
Your bike’s technical support depends on the manufacturer, it may cancel all the support at any time.
Now if you have chosen open source bike what changes it will make….
You get entire design of your bike.
You have license to use it, modify it.
You can share it with your all friends.
You can sell your bike with some changes.
You can use screwdriver at any time, as design of all part in micro form is available to you.
There is huge community support to make your bike look and work better.
There are less chances of roll back of support from owner, but even if that happens you have entire design with you, you can change the parts of your bike as per new trends.
So now you have to decide which bike you want.
There is a common misunderstanding about open source which says it is free. Well it is very wrong. Open source software are free is always correct but here free means freedom. Freedom to view the code, modify it, redistribute it. Owner of open source product may charge you for product or for services.
Linux is best example of open source product. Those who are interested in evolution of open source software and linux , please watch documentary The Revolution OS. It is 85 min long. But makes many things clear.
-Harshit Patalia (Lecturer, BCA)
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