Open source code is a software engineering term that refers to a form of licensing where the source code is open for modification by other parties other than the original code writer. This mode of coding is also used in other disciplines like biotech and fashion from the benefits it accrues to its users. However, we will focus on open source code from a software engineer’s perspective.
Agreeing to this kind of licensing means that the organization in question allows its open-source project access to the public. Therefore, any member of the public is allowed to modify and improve the written code. It also allows the creation of new projects from open-source code. Generally, having an open-source code gives end users the freedom to do anything they wish with the original code. This form of licensing has many advantages both to the original organization and to any other external user
Open source code is not merely free as it seems. It is just that it has no copyrights. This allows external users to do modifications, however, the original developers have the rights to sell their open source program to the public. Services embedded in the open source program are what make profits for the developers. The internet is a good example of an open source program, developers avail products through the internet for profits. The opportunity of creating collaborations and more innovations is enabled by having licenses that are open source in nature. This encourages more creatives to hop in and produce better programs for end-users.
Benefits of open source noted by a majority of developers include:
- Making a community of experts.
- Breaks monotony for engineers.
- Makes a better industry.
- Transparency
- Enhance technological developments
- Provides general control
- More secure
- Making a community of experts.
Open source software enables contributions from programmers and developers regardless of their locations. The original developer writes the codes and allows every other developer to put their contributions either by modification or improvement. This in turn creates one expert code that has had contributions from multiple developers. The open-source approach, therefore, gives opportunities to create a community in development.
- Breaks Monotony to Engineers
Availing open-source code to the public is beneficial not only to the program itself but also to other engineers. Engineers often get bored writing codes non-stop or working on the same project for a longer time. They often break this monotony of one project by hoping in open-source programs to explore knowledge and add contributions that are external to their original work. This gives the brain a super break producing even better projects from exposure to other developers’ work. The availability of something relatable to the engineers is an advantage that goes a long way toward developing the same engineers.
- Makes a Better Industry
Every other development in software engineering is a plus to the entire software engineering. Therefore, having an open-source code for external contributions creates a better industry of developers from constant new improvements. Developers try new codes and hacks that are read and practiced by others while the chain continues. The products developed from this open-source also contribute to the industry. More user-friendly applications and websites create a smooth workflow for consumers who share with more consumers creating a continuous cycle of users. This promotes reliability in technological advancements.
- Transparency
Having an Open-source promotes transparency for developers. Often, developers learn from other developers. Writing a code that is functional with user-friendly features and denying other developers from learning that code is selfish to developers. To create a better future in the industry, the codes must be shared widely to create more experts and exposure to newbies in software engineering. With other modifications and improvements also availed publicly from the original open-source code, the original developer is also appreciative of advancements made while concurrently learning from others. This makes development enjoyable for engineers.
- Enhance Technological Advancements.
Open-source code contributes to technological advancements. Since the original code is susceptible to further modifications and improvements, there are newer and better applications and websites created from one. This advances the overall technology available. For instance, the creation of one open-source application may lead to many other applications that ease the needs of users. An open-source code made for banking can be improved to monitor generated finances in a hospital and further used to collect school fees in a school. These systems are dependent on an open-source but are functional in different industries. Innovations inspired by open-source advance the technology further.
- Provides General Control
This form of approach to coding is beneficial from the control it gives developers. Limiting developers from giving input to produce better applications and websites is denying the industry a great improvement. Some programs are proprietary and do not allow access to the original code. These codes are not popular with many users from that limitation. Often, users desire apps that they can modify to their advantage and are also availed for free. This general control is what pulls individuals to the open-source approach. End-users can customize to whatever needs they have from the control allowed.
- More secure
Giving access to codes seems prone to security concerns but on the contrary, it boosts the security of the codes. External developers note where security bridges can be broken and debug them in the process. With the availability of security engineers all over and open-source code, security codes are introduced to protect the code and make it more secure for end-users. A closed software has no such privilege since it allows access to the original developers only. Providing free access is in turn improving the security of the code for better results for the end-users.
With the above-listed advantages, most big organizations and companies are not only opting to develop open-source programs but also allow the engineer employees to tap from the vast knowledge provided by other open-source codes available. It is certainly the future of coding that you should adopt as a developer.