Are All Open-Source Software the Same?

Open-source software is defined as openly licensed and collaborative software that allows users to modify the application’s source code and structure freely. The open-source design platforms have entirely revolutionized the software development process and the quality of applications that businesses can create.

Open-source development software promotes and fosters open collaboration, application customization, and decentralization of the software development process. Therefore, open-source software is an extremely important tool for encouraging innovation, development, and creativity within the application software industry.

Approximately 78% of businesses utilize open-source software to run some aspect of their day-to-day operations. Although open-source technology is a potent tool to create complex, high functioning software, many believe that all open-source software is the same. However, there are multiple different types of open-source software with varying levels of functionality and capability.

Types of open-source software

1) Open-core software

Open-core software is commonly mistaken as the same as open-source software. However, open-core software refers to a particular type of open-source software. In which only the source code is available for free. The ‘core’ version only provides users with a limited number of features. Requiring an up-gradation fee to reap the benefits of the entire functionality of the software application.

Open-core software has limited flexibility, innovation, and collaboration opportunities when compared to fully open-source applications. In addition, if open-core users want to upgrade to the fully open-source commercially available application, they are required to pay a specific upgrade fee at regular time intervals.

2) Open-washing software

An ‘open-washed’ software is defined as an application that claims to be open-source and openly licensed for marketing and promotional purposes. However, open-washed software often does not meet all of the required criteria to be accurately termed as ‘open-source.’ These types of software are usually only available under minimal terms and regulations.

Many businesses are forced to pay substantial licensing fees and upgrade costs after being duped into utilizing open-washed application software with minimal capability and features. Data migration from these types of software is often arduous, and many businesses find themselves in a vendor lock-in scenario.

3) Open-source software

The true definition of open-source software is developed in a collaborative, public, and freely distributed manner. However, the term ‘open-source’ is often used as a promotional strategy to sell market software that does not meet truly publicly available software requirements. Therefore, your business must understand what the term ‘open-source’ software entails.

There are numerous benefits to using completely open-source software, including better security encryption, scalability opportunities, cost-effectiveness, prevention of vendor lock-in, and much more.

Corteza – 100% Open-Source Software For Businesses

Crust’s low-code digital work platform, Corteza, is entirely open-source. It offers various publicly available features, and users do not have to pay extra for them.

Corteza encourages collaborative development while still prioritizing and protecting each user’s data security and privacy. Your business can build vastly scalable, secure, cloud-based enterprise applications using Corteza’s highly accessible open-source software. Try a demo of Corteza’s 100% open-source application development platform.