Benefits of open source software

Benefits of open source software:

Through the availability of the source every user has the liberty to copy, exploit and change the software. This in contrast to the so called proprietary software of which the licenses strongly limit the use, distribution and modification of the product equating this with theft.

The committed freedom to this software has lead to a number of interesting effects.

Better quality:

OSS has its own development model. As noted it is mostly developed and improved by networks of numerous programmers that don't always know eachother but cooperate through the internet. This means that it evolves at a high rate to a robust, stable and maintenance free software. Errors can be found and fixed more rapidly. This new development model for software results in products with better quality than comparable product made by a limited group of programmers within one company.

High innovation speed:

By publishing solutions for problems within the network of programmers the open source community is a large driving force behind the development of new software techniques.

Less costs:

Users of OSS don't always have to to pay for the acquisition, neither for eventual upgrades. In addition most OSS programs are more economical when it comes to system requirements so the rat race for new hardware / operating systems will be broken through. That is not only in favour of companies (decreasing automation costs) but also the non substantial sector, like education, benefits from this.

User driven:

The development of open source software will mainly be driven by the wishes of the user. Users are mostly in direct contact with developers. Additions desired by these users will be assimilated when there is enough support. In case of a lack of support the user has the ability to add the desired functions to the software, by themselves or a specialized company.

Next to this shift in the development model, OSS also sees a shift in the business model, from license based to a service model. Companies can generate sales from offering support and/or integration of various software.