Propriety vs Open
Source
Propriety vs Open
Source
Propriety software is copyrighted and can only be accessed by paying for a licence. The
source code is kept secret and is only shared with those who need to know it and the user
receives the compiled programs. Proprietary software is the most commonly used software
by the general public today
The source code is usually kept by the developer (closed-source). The software cannot be
adapted or modified by the user. This type of software is typically off-the-shelf and not
custom made
Examples of proprietary software include:
Windows and OS X operating systems
Microsoft Office productivity suite
Adobe Creative Suite productivity software
Logic music creation software
paid-for games for consoles
Propriety vs Open
Source
Open-source is usually free of copyrights and on the most part can be obtained by anyone
for free using the source code. This results in the user being able to make changes to
tailor the software to their needs.
Open-source software is often developed collaboratively by many programmers and
companies that give up their time to improve the software
Examples of open-source software include:
Linux operating system
Firefox web browser
Python programming language
Open Office productivity suite
Thunderbird mail client
Apache web server
GIMP image editing software
Moodle virtual learning environment
Propriety vs Open
Propriety Advantages Propriety SourceOpen-source Open-source
Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages
The product should be free of There is an initial or ongoing It costs nothing and provides There is no guarantee that
bugs. If bugs still exist, updates (subscription) cost. the source code so that it works properly as there is
known as patches are often anyone can modify the no requirement for anyone
provided free of charge, which fix software for their own to ensure it is bug free.
these bugs. purposes.
Help can be sought from the Software cannot be adapted It can have many authors. Support might not be
organisation who supplied the to meet the needs of the This enables programmers readily available, especially
software if problems occur. user. Only the machine code to contribute to the if the program is not in
version of the software is development of a program widespread use.
distributed, which cannot be over time, refining and
edited. improving it and adding
extra features.
Feature updates which extend the It can be limited to a single A modified version, known
software's facilities are often computer or network, so as a derivative, must also be
available, although usually at a unless the licence allows it, made freely available for
cost. a user may not redistribute anyone else to use or adapt.
the software.
Proprietary software that is in
widespread use often has support
available from many sources.