Both of these are different types of software based on the availability of the source code. But there is a significant and primary difference between Open Source Code and Closed Source Code. In this article, we will discuss the same in detail. An open-source software refers to that computer software where the source is open- meaning, the general public can easily access it and then use it. It is generally referred to as OSS, and the source code of an OSS is public. It refers to that type of computer software in which the source code remains closed- meaning, the public doesn’t have access to its source code. It is generally referred to as CSS, and the source is protected in it.
What is Open Source Software?
An open-source software refers to that computer software where the source is open- meaning, the general public can easily access it and then use it. It is generally referred to as OSS, and the source code of an OSS is public. It makes use of the code that is available on the internet for free. Other organisations and users can modify this code. So it is available for every person to look at. An OSS costs comparatively less, the user restrictions are very low on the basis of the modification and usability of the software.
Example: Firefox, Gimp, OpenOffice, Android, Alfresco, Thunderbird, Zimbra, Mailman, MySQL, TeX, Moodle, Perl, Samba, KDE, PHP, and many more.
What is Closed Source Software?
It refers to that type of computer software in which the source code remains closed- meaning, the public doesn’t have access to its source code. It is generally referred to as CSS, and the source is protected in it. Thus, only the organisation/individual who has created this code has access to it for making any changes. The overall price is comparatively high, and every user needs to have a licence to access and use this software. This authentic licence also puts restrictions on its users on the basis of modification and usability of the software.
Examples: Google Earth, Skype, Adobe Flash, Java, Adobe Reader, Virtual Box, WinRAR, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Adobe Flash Player, Mac OS, and many more.
Difference between Open Source Software and Closed Source Software
Let us talk about the differences between Open Source Software and Closed Source Software.
| Parameters | Open Source Software | Closed Source Software |
| Short-form | Also generally referred to as OSS. | Also generally referred to as CSS. |
| Basics | These refer to that computer software in which the source remains open. Thus, the general public is able to access it easily and use it. | These refer to that computer software in which the source code remains closed. Thus, the general public has no access to it. |
| Source Code | It is open source and public. | It is closed source and protected from all. |
| Modification of Software | Any user or organisation can easily change this code since it is available as an open-source for any person to take a look at. | Only the organisation or individual that created it has access to the code. Only they can modify it. |
| Price | It is comparatively cheaper and more cost-effective. | It is comparatively expensive and less cost-effective. |
| Restrictions | Users have no restrictions on the modification or usability of the software. | Users are not very restricted on the modification or usability of the software. |
| Programmer Recognition | Programmers need to compete against one another for recognition. | Programmers don’t need to compete against each other for recognition. |
| Programmer Feedback | All programmers are free to provide improvement strategies, and they get incorporated if they get accepted by the software developers. | The software organisation/firm hires programmers to provide an improvement on their software. |
| Team Strength | A large OSS may include a large number of programmers for completing their projects in teams. | The number of programmers who might team up and work on a CSS project is always limited. |
| Purchasing of Code | A user purchases it along with its source code. | You don’t have to purchase it along with its source code. |
| Installing on Computers | We can install an OSS on any computer device. | Having a licence of a CSS is a prerequisite before you install it on any computer device, and this validity is also limited. |
| Failure and Glitch | Open-source software is prone to failing faster as well as fixing faster. | There is no room for failure of closed source software. |
| Software Responsibility | No one is explicitly responsible for an OSS. | The vendor is responsible for anything that might happen to a CSS. |
| Examples | Firefox, Gimp, OpenOffice, Android, Alfresco, Thunderbird, Zimbra, Mailman, MySQL, TeX, Moodle, Perl, Samba, KDE, PHP, and many more. | Google Earth, Skype, Adobe Flash, Java, Adobe Reader, Virtual Box, WinRAR, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Adobe Flash Player, Mac OS, and many more. |
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