What is open source?

The history of open source

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Open source is a software development approach based on the sharing of source codes. It is based on the principle that anyone can contribute to software code, and that software code is freely accessible to everyone. Originally, the idea came from a group of developers who shared their codes in order to allow other developers to improve them. Open source was quickly popularized in the 90s by projects such as Linux and Apache. Today, a lot of popular software is open source, including operating systems, developer tools, web servers, web browsers, databases, and mobile applications. Open source is a relevant alternative to proprietary software, as it allows users to benefit from software for free and without restrictions. In addition, open source promotes collaboration between developers, which makes it possible to create quality software.

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The open source development method

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Open source development is a particular software development approach that therefore has its own particularities. Indeed, open source is based on the principle of collaboration, this gives developers the opportunity in particular to work together on complex projects and to benefit from each other's skills while also exchanging with the community, which then participates actively in the development of the software and influences its evolution.

The differences with free and closed software

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There are three types of software on the market today: free software, open source software, and closed software. Free software is software that can be used, modified, and redistributed freely by anyone. Open source software is similar, but as explained earlier it generally has a license that allows developers to make changes and redistribute them. Closed software, on the other hand, is one that cannot be modified by users and cannot be redistributed, so this is the case with proprietary software, whose ownership is exclusive to the entity that developed it.

Free and open source software is generally considered to be “better” than closed source software because it has the advantages mentioned in the previous paragraph.

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The benefits of open source...

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There are a lot of benefits to using open source software. In the first place, it allows users to benefit from software for free, making it a great option for indie developers and small businesses. In addition, open source software is generally more flexible and can be customized according to the needs of the user. In addition, open source software generally benefits from an active community of developers who can fix bugs and add new features. This approach makes it possible to create high-quality and reliable software, because bugs and security flaws are then quickly identified and fixed.

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... and its drawbacks

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However, there are several drawbacks to using open source software. The first is that sometimes it's hard to find the right software to meet your needs. There are so many choices available that you can easily feel overwhelmed. In addition, it can be difficult to know if a software is well maintained and up to date, depending on the community activity behind it. The second disadvantage is that you are often dependent on other users to find solutions to the problems you encounter, in fact if you have a technical problem, it can be difficult to find someone who is able and willing to help you since dedicated support does not exist: in fact, Open Source software is often less well documented than proprietary software, which can make it more difficult for beginners to use them. Finally, there is the risk that the software you are using will simply be abandoned by its original developer and therefore obsolete.

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The most popular open source software

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There is a lot of open source software available on the market, but some of them are more popular than others. Among the most popular is the famous LibreOffice suite, a complete and free office tool that is often used as an alternative to Office. Drupal, a CMS used by many web developers, is also OpenSource, this is also the case with WordPress, which is the most common CMS on the market (43% of websites are now under WordPress!). We can also mention GIMP, a very powerful photo editing software, Mozilla Firefox, the essential VLC video player or the 3D modeling software Blender. These software are all free and available on numerous platforms, making them easy to use for users of all levels. They are used by millions of users around the world and have been translated into numerous languages.

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The market in 2023

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By 2023, the global open source software market is expected to reach $85 billion. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 11.8% from 2018 to 2023. This growth will be driven by a number of factors, including the continued adoption of open source software by businesses, for example, for the management of their information systems, as they have been seduced by the advantages that this software offers them. This growth is also supported by the rise of new projects such as the distributed ledger project based on the Hyperledger blockchain, the growing popularity of cloud computing and the rise of artificial intelligence.

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