- Cost: Open Source software available under the GNU GPL license is free (Community Version) In addition, the developers of many of the open source solutions offer support contracts that are suitable to all levels of business or organization. (Enterprise Version) at substantial savings to proprietary vendors.
- Software Source Code: When you purchase a license to use most commercial software, you are dependent on the software designer to add features or customize the software for the needs of your business or organization. The software manufacturer provides you with only the executable program. You do not have access to the source code. With open source software, you are free to modify the software and customize it in order to suit your application.
- Scalability and Robustness: a large community of highly skilled software developers has created open source solutions, such as Linux, Perl, and Apache.
- Large Support Community: a large community of developers that communicate through on-line discussion groups supports many open source offerings. This allows common problems to be easily solved and bugs to be quickly exposed and fixed.
- Security and Protection of Proprietary Data: There is a myth that open source software is more vulnerable to attack than proprietary solutions. Actually, the opposite is often true. Because the source code is exposed, it is often easier for a security minded software community to close security holes or breeches.
- Avoiding lock-in: Organizations are said to be ‘locked-in’ to software products when the costs of switching to alternatives are prohibitively high. Proprietary software vendors can ‘lock’ users in to their products by ensuring that they are not readily compatible with potential rivals. Vendors may then increase the price of product upgrades or support without too great a risk of losing existing customers.
- Translation: With access to the source code it is easy to translate the language of the software interface. Large closed source commercial software vendors are usually unwilling to translate their products into less widely spoken languages, as the market for them would be too small to guarantee profit.
- Bug fixing: When a bug is spotted in proprietary software, the only people who can fix it are the original developers, as only they have access to the source code. Open source software is different. As a large number of users can access and change the code, bugs tend to be more visible and more rapidly corrected.
To speak with a PERI Open Source Migration or Development expert to schedule an appointment, please call our Global US Headquarters at 1-973-735-9500, or email us at
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