What Is Open Source? Why Open Source Software Are Popular?

Nobody has ever accused me of being a romantic, but I have been overturned by the generosity of these geeks around the world who have contributed their skills for free, free of charge and for nothing to a huge library of freely accessible software. A Google search for “open source accounting software” produces 31 million hits and although two thirds of them will be freeloaders trying to sell you some 10 million free accounting packages cannot be a bad thing, though two thirds of those hits will be technical “Freeware”, rather than real open source, we still have a very large number to play.

What is open source?

Well, Wikipedia says an open source software is computer software provided with its source code and licensed with a license in which the copyright holder has the rights to study, modify and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose In simple English, not one of Wikipedia’s strengths, you can download it for nothing, you can use it and you can change it to meet your needs, provided that you do not infringe the license by reselling it.

Also, Read: What is Open Source Programming? How to Get Involved?

This is different from freeware

In freeware, you can download and use it, but the source code is not provided, and you need to use it, it comes “out of the box” or not at all. Now, many will tell you that open source is “better” than commercial software because it’s created by informal teams around the world who all add their two-penny value to the whole, all in friendly competition with each other, providing a quality assurance mechanism which is unmatched in commercial software circles. Well, maybe, but the end result is a wealth of updates that can drive the user crazy: and who has heard of ‘friendly competition’.

Another criticism of freeware is that it often offers a rundown version of the main commercial software. In addition, I say ‘Who Cares’. If a freeware accounting system takes you through the first three years of operation, you will have done well. In the end, if you go to the market for commercial software, you will have a much better idea of what you want from your package, and if you end up buying from the original source, well, well done it.

Also, Read: 10 Best Free and Open Source Software For Windows 10

Why is Open Source Popular?

Open Source popularity is increasing due to the many advantages it offers compared to commercial ERP. The required upgrades can be made by any programmer, regardless of the business connection and finances. Many companies choose the open source to avoid the drawbacks and limitations of commercial ERP. Open source solves problems like high-performance version upgrades, high licensing fees, high maintenance costs and others. It is more flexible and therefore preferred today. This concept has abolished license fees and this has been one of the reasons for the popularity of ERP.

Also, Read: Difference between various open-source software licenses

Some of the reasons for open source popularity are as follows:

Reduced costs

Implemented by Enterprise Resource Planning System requires a lot of investment and time. A large budget must be planned and set aside for the ERP implementation. With Open Source, these costs have been significantly reduced. There are no high license fees and the source code of the software is also available. With the availability of the codes, changes become easier.

Reduced dependency on the supplier

This is another reason for the popularity of open source ERP, as the vendor’s dependency is reduced. The source code of the software is available, which simplifies the organization. It can make the necessary modifications and changes itself without being dependent on the seller. The source code is like a guide for the company and reduces the conflicts between the provider and the company.

User-friendliness

Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning technology is easy to use and understand. It handles the functions easily, making it easy for small companies to implement ERP. It is also beneficial for people from the same industries.

Flexibility

This popularity has increased because of its flexibility. Open source allows the selection of ERP codes according to the requirements for the sub-application. The rest of the codes that are not needed can be ignored.

Education

Running an open source application does not require formal training. It can be easily understood and learned while working with an orientation program. It is relatively simple and therefore requires no formal training. This is one reason for the popularity of this type of ERP.

Safety

Not everything has to be made public, which makes it less risky. And sure.

The popularity of open source has increased mainly because small and medium-sized businesses could not afford traditional ERP software. Because of their cost advantage, these companies can now easily download them from the Internet. It does not take as much time to implement traditional ERP.

There are no delays due to the dependency of the vendor and the application can be changed by the company itself. You do not have to have a large team to manage or manage the implementation. These are the reasons why this open source popularity has increased in the market.