Open source refers to something that can be modified and shared because its design is publicly accessible. Open-source software is software whose source code is available for modification or enhancement by anyone.
Open-source software is computer software with its source code made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. Open-source software may be developed in a collaborative public manner. Open-source software is the most prominent example of open source development.
Nowadays, many business and government organizations are using open source software and the usage is increasing. of course, the price is not the only advantage.
Free and open source software holds numerous other compelling advantages for businesses, some of them even more valuable than the software's low price.
The following are a list of the advantages of opting for open source software.
1. SECURITY
2. QUALITY
3. COST
4. FREEDOM
5. FLEXIBILITY
6. AUDIT-ABILITY
7. ABUNDANT SUPPORT
8. SCALING AND CONSOLIDATING
9. FAST DEPLOYMENT
1. Security
Open source enables anyone to examine software for security flaws. The continuous and broad peer-review enabled by publicly available source code improves security through the identification and elimination of defects that might otherwise be missed. Gartner for example, recommends the open source Apache Web server as a more secure alternative to closed source Internet Information servers. The availability of source code also facilitates in-depth security reviews and audits by government customers.
2. Quality
Open source software gets closest to what users want because those users can have a hand in making it so. It's not a matter of the vendor giving users what it thinks they want--users and developers make what they want, and they make it well. At least one recent study has shown, in fact, that technical superiority is typically the primary reason enterprises choose open source software.
3. Freedom
By its very nature, the source code of open source software is available to all, meaning that no one company owns the software. Any company can build upon open source software. It may be operated and maintained by multiple vendors, reducing both barriers to entry and exit. A customer can easily choose another vendor because they are not locked-in to one vendor’s offering.
4. Flexibility
Open source software, is typically much less resource-intensive, meaning that you can run it well even on older hardware. It's up to you--not some vendor—to decide when it's time to upgrade.
5. Audit-ability
With closed source software, you have nothing but the vendor's claims telling you that they're keeping the software secure and adhering to standards, for example. It's basically a leap of faith. The visibility of the code behind open source software, however, means you can see for yourself and be confident
6. Cost
Using open source software can helps you to minimize your expenses. It can save on licensing fees and maintenance fees. The important expenses that you would encounter would be for documentation, media, and support.
7. Abundant support
Open source support is mostly freely available and can be easily accessed through online communities. There are also many software companies that provide free online help and also varied levels of paid support. The most organization who create open source software solutions also provide maintenance and support.
8. Scaling and Consolidating
The Opensource software can be easily scaled. With varied options for clustering, load balancing and open source applications, such as email and database, you can enable your organization to either scale up and achieve higher growth or consolidate and achieve more with less.
9. Fast deployment
With open source software, consumers needn’t wait years to deploy a solution. The Opensource software can be “test driven”prior to procurement and is particularly suitable for inter-agency collaboration, rapid prototyping, and experimentation. Both known and unanticipated users can be rapidly provisioned.
10. Try Before You Buy
If you're considering using open source software, it will typically cost you nothing to try it out first. This is partly due to the software's free price, and partly due to the existence of LiveCDs and Live USBs, are an example. No commitment required until you're sure.
None of this is to say, of course, that your business should necessarily use open source software for everything. But with all the many benefits it holds, you'd be remiss not to consider it seriously.