Open source is moving up in the world. Once despised by many a major tech company, open source software has become so popular that even the major players now rely on it for critical business functions daily. It’s no wonder why so many open source projects are being released every day, and even some closed source ones are becoming open.
If you’ve got a closed source solution and plan to transition from software development to software support, you should definitely consider going open source. While the difference in structure may seem scary at first, there are benefits to it that can take the scare out of switching.
Internal Improvements
One of the biggest benefits to turning open source is increased security. Because more people are looking at the code, there’s a bigger chance of identifying and fixing bugs and security flaws. This is one area where open source has a significant advantage over proprietary software.
Another benefit that can be gained is changes in the code that may improve software performance. Again, because more people are looking at the code, there’s a better chance of finding what works and what doesn’t, and what can be changed to make the software even better and more attuned to users’ needs.
Broader Adoption
For those shifting from closed to open source, there’s a great propensity for increased adoption. This is not only because many are currently using and prefer open source software, but also because open source allows the software’s internal functionality to be improved freely. When people are able to freely customize software to their specific needs, they’re more inclined to use it. And because it’s open source, they’re free and more inclined to share it as well.
Money Matters
Of course there’s the matter of money. Perhaps you’ve been used to earning significantly from being closed source . This does not have to change drastically when moving to open source. There are plenty of ways that open source software can be a lucrative business, and projects like Red Hat, MongoDB, Cloudera and many others can certainly attest to that. And when it comes to costs, open source gives you more freedom and may even help you cut it down to a minimum.
These are some of the benefits to shifting to open source that make it a move worth considering. As with any major project decision however, you need to consider carefully whether it would be more advantageous for your particular project to go open source.