Open source promises advantages for business applications

What are the advantages of open source?

One of the primary advantages of open source software is that it is often freely distributed, making it an ideal solution for new organisations when they have limited capital to work with. It can also be a cost-effective solution for mitigating significant overheads if large numbers of employees need access to the software.

While proprietary software will have a closed development cycle, to protect intellectual property (IP), the transparent nature of the development cycle for open source software means it will have significant oversight that can identify potential issues in the code during development. This can benefit the security and stability of open source software.

The transparent nature of open source development continues after distribution, meaning it can subsequently be used by anybody. This allows developers to adapt the software to meet their specific business needs, rather than having to adapt their processes to meet the limitations of the software they use. Consequently, innovative enterprises may be able to offer something different and unique.

Discussing its decision to take the open source route, Satoshi Takano, CEO of ReactForge, says: “When we started looking, we didn’t know what platform we were going to use. We spoke with a developer who recommended Grafana in this particular scenario. It helps us to be open to other possibilities.”

Furthermore, as organisations grow and expand, they can adapt the open source software they use to meet new demands. This flexibility enables agility by removing the need to invest in new software or licensing arrangements to meet emerging market trends.

The free use of open source software means the issues around having sufficient licences are no longer a concern. Open source software can be expanded and streamlined as required, without the costly problem of having too few or too many software licences.

The transparent nature of open source software carries through into its deployment and usage, with the output also being open and freely available. Proprietary software may use a specific file format that can limit the usability of data that is generated, as any exported data may lose specific functionality or formatting. However, open source software makes the sharing of data simple and easy, as it tends to use generic or industry-standard file formats. This flexibility allows data to be used in new ways, enabling users to freely explore different potential markets and data usage.

It also means users are not tied into a specific supplier or software provider, thus enabling them to maximise the use of data generated by exploiting optimal functions in a variety of software packages.

“Having come from Cisco, where I was in the collaboration group, I take that same approach to what we do here; that we should be pulling in from different sources and we don’t want to be locked down with licensing and all the complexities that come with it,” says Takano. “For what we’re trying to do, the open source path is the right one.”

Recruitment opportunities

Since open source systems have become widely available, there are a lot more people using them. Not only are more people familiar with using them, but developers are also familiar with coding them. This naturally makes recruitment easier.

There are many developers who are already familiar with open source software and coding as this is something they do in their spare time. This can be an indicator of someone who genuinely enjoys working in coding and development, rather than just approaching it as a job. Such a person will be more invested and productive within their role.

“A lot of people get engaged in open source, and without any pay,” says Peter Zaitsev, co-founder of Percona. “They are doing that because of the passion, and they become good because the core motivation was the love, not money. That changes a lot.”

Although proprietary software providers will often have a dedicated support package as part of their licensing agreement, open source is quite different. Open source has a thriving community of enthusiasts and followers online, who can offer assistance and advice. While this may not be as official as that offered through proprietary software, these people are often just as knowledgeable and approachable.

That said, there is also the risk that coders or developers may inadvertently give away sensitive information when seeking assistance online. Therefore, a regular reminder of how staff should engage with external parties is important to protect confidential information and IP.

Despite the inherent benefits of using open source software, there are several issues that organisations need to be aware of before committing to using open source software.

What are the licensing permissions?

The primary point to consider is that open source is not just a single type of software distribution, but a catch-all term for multiple means by which software can be distributed and deployed. Currently, there are more than 80 different types of open source licence, but they generally fall into one of two categories: copyleft and permissive.

Copyleft: This type of open source licensing means any software derived from the original open source code inherits the terms and conditions of the original licence.

Permissive: This is a freer open source licence, allowing for greater flexibility of the reuse, modification and distribution of the software.

However, these are generic terms for a variety of licences and care is needed to ensure the terms and conditions of the licence are not breached, as this could have costly implications.

Since various different types of open source licences may be utilised, maintaining control and oversight of the licences can become an increasingly complex issue as new software is acquired, developed and distributed. For this reason, software asset management (SAM) tools can be an important part of a business management suite, to ensure that the terms of the various software licences are properly adhered to.

There is also the issue that permissions in licences for open source software can change and evolve over time. These may change the permitted uses of the software, including rules relating to profit-making. Therefore, awareness must be maintained regarding any changes to licensing agreements.

“There is a lot of concern right now in open source as the term is very squishy. Everybody can call this stuff open source, but it’s not the specific Open Source Initiative-approved term,” says Zaitsev. “People have to understand what is open source in terms of governance and which is open source for convenience or for marketing purposes.”

Technically challenging

Another aspect to consider is that open source software can be technically challenging to implement. It can be hard to operate, as the user experience can be markedly different to proprietary software, which in turn means it can be difficult to adopt. For example, Microsoft Office has become the de facto standard for office applications, so using a different software platform can be confusing for users, especially those who are not technically minded.

Compared with proprietary software, open source can also be challenging to install. As open source is often distributed direct from the developer’s platform, there are no providers to facilitate the distribution process. Therefore, the installer must ensure they are installing the correct version and remain up to date with the latest patches.

Open source also needs to come from a reputable source. For example, in 2020, malware was discovered in a set of repositories on the GitHub platform. This was discovered through the transparent nature of open source development, but it demonstrates the risk if caution is not maintained.

Despite the challenges, open source software remains a viable alternative to proprietary software. It can be especially useful for new and emerging organisations that wish to minimise capital expenditure while remaining flexible for adapting to shifting market trends.

While the freedom of use can be a benefit for expanding organisations, care must be taken to ensure that the accompanying licensing agreements are adhered to.