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Open-Source vs Proprietary Software

There are typically two types of software - open source and proprietary. Though there are many misconceptions regarding what the former actually means.

  • Open-Source software is provided to consumers with an OSI-approved license text, and source will legally have to be provided to all customers who ask for it. Typically the source is available through sites such as GitHub - to anyone, and development happens with many external contributors.
  • Proprietary software is provided to consumers with no source availability.

In addition to Open-Source Software, there is Free Software which by FSF definition is software that is free in liberties, not cost. It essentially ensures that the source code of software a user has can be modified.

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