Open source and closed source are part of our operating system and software. Every individual and business organization gets doubt to choose between these two sources. The open-source which is also called OSS stands for Open Source Software, and closed source is known as CSS stands for closed source software.
About The Open And Closed Source
• Open Source Software: Open source software comes with free codes, which are open to all and can be accessed by anyone. This can be modified and edited by the public. OSS can be modified by any hacker or any organization as it comes to Google openly.
• Closed Source Software: In opposite closed source software comes with confidential and guarded code. It can be accessed by a particular person or organization. Genuine authority can make any modification on this. Closed source software is available in paid service only.
Which One Is Good Either Open Or Close Source?
Here we shall give some clues, where you can find which one is better for you or your organization. The complicated security system of these two categories makes us confused to choose the right one. The difficulties of the open source can be fixed quickly. Codes are available on Google, which makes it more convenient for hackers and engineers for further modification. It comes free of charge for general users. Developers around the world can iterate it for unlocking, from anywhere anytime. Due to no complexity of this software can be used in any filed by beginners and start-up organizations.
Closed source software is used by guarded code and can be modified or resolved by authorized persons only. The owner of the software has full access only to entering this for further modify or editing. It is an arrangement, which you would like to use in your business protectively. This schematic software is made for a particular organization or person. You can compare this with your password-protected mobile and computer. There is no third person’s involvement except your permission. You are paying for your business security.
Is Open Source Better Than The Closed Source?
After knowing all the beneficial sides of these two software, one question can be raised in your mind that, is open source better than the closed source? Open source is somehow beneficial. As an IT student, you can do a lot with open source, because it comes with no cost service, whereas in the closed source you need to pay at the time of any changes or updating. This advantage goes to open source choosers; they can do a lot with freedom and without any restrictions. Due to the written guidance of closed source software, is often used easily. When viewed from the safety side, open source can be used easily in the wrong way if someone wants to do that. If you think, your technical staff is in enough number to maintain the security side of open source, and then it should be your first choice for the time. When you get growth in your business, technologies must be more innovative. With time you can bring changes and make some investments to your organization for fast and secure technology.
Service: Also Important Factor
Open source guidance’s are available mostly in online forums and blogs. Somehow they are not responsive to the people in a disciplinary way. It often fails to give a high response to the users beyond their expectations. This software is found on the web, but the initial level to the users is very low for resolving the problem. You will be in favor of an online community’s free service, where you can never expect a high incentivized response from them.
In the same manner, close source software users have these facilities, because software companies are getting paid from you for this service, and they are bounded to give you all services in a disciplinary way. Services are a great advantage for the users of proprietary software or CSS. Ongoing supports are provided by the software authority through user’s little technical skill, therefore most of the users choose close source rather than open-source. Support from the viable companies comes with immediate effect by well-experienced experts, who are intimately familiar with the software and service.
Usability is the most critical part of open source users. As this software come with no paid service, their manual fails to guide the users properly. There are no rules and laws in these manuals and complications in the guidelines might be difficult to follow for you. Sometimes they give wrong information to the users written by inexpert.
For closed source software user value is very high to the software authorities. Their guidance and manual are very easy to follow and legitimate as it is written for them. They take different initiatives to make the customer happy with their service. These software authorities always think about, how to maximize their support service. They reach their target audiences in a user-friendly way. Training is also available for closed source software, which is not in the case of open source.
Here are some examples of open and closed source software, which will help you out for better understand.
LAMP – Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP
LAMP is an open-source software category. It uses Linux for the operating system, Apache is the web server, MySQL is the relational database management system and PHP is an object-oriented scripting language.
WordPress is not just one of the most famous CMS but it is open-source software that can be accessed by anyone.
WordPress is a popular website building tool. As it is an open-source website builder, you can customize and change the templates at any time. There are many free plugins you can use to add to your website to make it more functional. It is not a drag-drop website builder, so if you want to make any changes on your website, you need to take the help of a developer or programmer. If you have good knowledge of coding, then WordPress can be a good platform for you. And no matter if you are using shared, VPS, reseller, cloud or dedicated server, WordPress has 60.4% of market share and have more than 24,808,989 live websites across the globe.
Drupal is a free open source content management system. Most of the people use this for individual or organization
to maintain their websites.
Fun Fact – Total Live Sites: 581,174
Joomla is another content management system (CMS). It is used for publishing web content, social media, and E-Commerce site.
Fun Fact – Total Live Sites: 1,844,993
Magento is an open-source CMS. It facilitates great SEO, powerful marketing and catalog-management tools.
Fun Fact – According to builtwith, with market share 1.8%, Magento has approx. 230,606 live websites.
An open cart is an open-source chat system. It is safe e-commerce solutions for online stores, it provides for setting up an own online business. It can be used in any web server with MySQL and PHP running on that.
Zencart is also open source e-commerce software. This software is free to download. Zencart is based on PHP and
Ubercart is an open-source e-commerce shopping cart that accomplishes your online store with Drupal. This is a leading open source content management system.
Android is open-source. An android operating system is based on code from the Android open source project or AOSP. Anyone can take source code to create a custom operating system from it.
Closed Source Software
Squarespace is a website builder. It is a close source website builder, so in-house programmers only can make any changes in the tools. It is easier to use than WordPress website builder. Content can be placed by drag and drop without touching any line of code. It is for those people, who do not have knowledge about codes and are not tech-savvy. It comes with user guides so you can make your website very easily without any challenging.
Fun Fact – Marketing Share Is 18.64% with approx. 313,647 live websites.
Weebly is similar to Squarespace. It is close source website builder software. You no need to have any knowledge about coding to build the website through Weebly, it is a simple drag-drop website builder. Support time is always ready if you face any trouble. It does not allow you to make any changes to the same extent, which you can easily do in WordPress.
Fun Fact – Market Share: 12.71% with 203,691+ live websites.
Wix is a well-known close source website builder. It is a full-service site builder; users easily can set up the website in a variety of different niches. Once you sign up, which allows you to build a website on your own. Coding skills are not required to make a website on the wix.com. There are about 500 designs and templates are available to build your website.
Fun Fact – Market Share: 20.86% with 334,304+ live websites.
Sitecore is a close source system and it comes with licensing fees. Sitecore is a proprietary platform, which is completely maintained by a privately held company. It has innovative and costly features, which are better than open-source website builders like WordPress, drupal.
Fun Fact – Market Share Only 0.02%
Shopify is another close source website builder that comes with online tools service. You can simply go to shopify.com to sign up and create your website with a quick setup. You can run your e-commerce store by making the website on Shopify. You will get support at any time from the technical team if you get into the trouble to make your website on shopify.com.