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Open Source: advantages and disadvantages of open source
Open Source refers to software that has open-source code. In simple terms, in this case, the source material of the software is available for review and modification. Open Source is used when an add-on needs to be added so that the software can be better tailored to individual requirements. In addition, the product can be freely distributed thanks to open source.
The principle of Open Source has long gone beyond programming and has spread to other fields. For example, designers keep various templates and fonts open, developers keep online games or applications for mobile devices open, and scientists provide links to their research for free.
Open-source software is preferred not only by individual users but also by states. A vivid example is France, where the computers of the gendarmerie are equipped with Ubuntu software, which is open source. The ministries in the country also reject the licensed and expensive Microsoft Office in favor of the free LibreOffice. The latter is already used by officials in the Netherlands and Italy, as well as some municipalities in Spain and Albania. In the UK, previously used the format for PDF files, but now prefer ODF, which is also in the public domain.
The prerequisites for the development of Open Source were the release of the first commercial computers and their distribution. With time, writing software for every model became resource-intensive, and in 1984 the GNU project was created, where programmers shared their experiences and codes. Five years later, the General Public License appeared, which allowed the copying, distribution, and use of the software.
In 1991 the first free operating system was created, but it did not have its own kernel. This situation was remedied by Linus Torvalds, who developed open-source Linux. The Open Source Initiative was founded in 1998, with the aim of popularizing this trend. The term Open Source was also coined at that time, to denote the availability of software for all comers.
The benefits of using open source products are many. First of all, such software saves money for individual consumers and companies by eliminating the need to buy licenses. Also, there is no privacy gap which is often sorely missed by corporations selling software. For example, Microsoft collected the personal data of 300,000 users for targeting or other purposes. It was leaked by the Dutch government, which caused a scandal.
Despite the advantages, Open Source has disadvantages, including the lack of support from software developers, which limits the possibilities for users.
Another problem is plagiarism when open-source code can be appropriated by developers for their products without attribution. By making minor changes, the software is passed off as its own, presenting it as a new idea.