Advantages of Open Source
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Customer is in control. The Internet enables the application to be developed under the design control of multiple
collaborating customers.
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The customer can extensively test the application for its fit to his business before making any extensive and
expensive commitment to it.
- High quality applications - massive peer review assures reliability and security.
- Open and widespread standards - there are no secrets in open source software.
- Wide source for developers - It takes advantage of the Internet for worldwide collaboration and expertise.
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High quality maintenance and customization service. Service is the only marketable product and the customer
chooses the provider of service.
- Development and support costs are distributed among multiple companies.
- No vendor lock in - lower implementation and switching costs.
- Can evolve with the customer's business no matter what happens to the original developer or developers.
Disadvantages of Proprietary
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Vendor is in control. The application is developed for the financial and business benefit of the vendor.
The customer is a means by which the vendor achieves these benefits.
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Expensive to develop - industry averages are 10 to 15 lines of code per day per developer.
Total costs average out to about $50 per line of code.
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Vendor Lock In - The customer is dependent upon the developer or 'owner' of the software for
enhancements and service.
- Low reliability - Proprietary software is notoriously 'buggy'.
- Low functionality - Proprietary software is notoriously only 'partially satisfactory'.
- Low security - Few eyes see the code. Software 'holes' remained unfixed.
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Duplicate efforts - For each business function there are numerous software packages developed by numerous
small pockets of independent developers.
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Difficult to communicate or share data between systems. Standards, protocols, and algorithms are kept
secret as 'intellectual property'. 'Open' standards are 'closed' by proprietary extensions for business
advantage.
- Narrow source for developers. Vendors are dependent on their own 'in-house' expertise.
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Package marketing - Competition is on the selling of a 'package'. Service and enhancements, and
maintenance are considered necessary overheads.