Key Takeaways
Open source software powers many of the technology products you use every day, from browsers to mobile phones. Open source updates and firmware keep older devices from becoming obsolete. Open source encryption and untraceability enhance security and privacy.
Open source software has been around in some form since the early 1980s and is now used in nearly every sector of technology. Open source tools and software are used in everything from television to ChatGPT, so there’s a good chance you’re already using it, even if you don’t realize it. Open source is found in web browsers, operating systems, apps, and games, and is often licensed so that other developers can modify it. There are many reasons to use open source software instead of proprietary programs, including feeling part of a community and keeping your data more secure.
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5. Breathe new life into old hardware
From Wi-Fi routers to laptops, open source software can save them from the scrap heap
Many, if not most, technology companies design their products with planned obsolescence in mind. Android phones are typically supported for a certain period of time by the manufacturer with operating system and security updates. Once that period is over, the manufacturer may decide not to continue supporting the device, but the open-source nature of Android means that developers can always try. XDA’s forums are full of developers keeping older devices alive with the latest security fixes or offering alternative ROMs rather than manufacturer options.
Similarly, Wi-Fi routers are often closed source, but thanks to open source firmware projects like DD-WRT and OpenWRT, they can be updated with new features that manufacturers leave out. Your old laptop may not be able to run the latest Windows updates, but installing Linux or Chrome OS could help extend its lifespan and keep it out of e-waste facilities. None of these options would be possible without open source software, which does so much good for the world.
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4. Freedom of Choice
Free yourself from vendor lock-in and other hassles
One of the biggest complaints about closed-source software is vendor lock-in, which can range from proprietary file types to exorbitant prices, predatory subscription models, or other poor practices by the company that owns the software. Open source software avoids most of these practices by publishing the source code so that anyone can examine and modify it to create their own version of the software.
Open source file formats allow you to access the documents you create even if the software you used to create them is discontinued. Open source may be the future of AI research, at least as far as Meta is concerned. The company’s latest large-scale language model, Llama 3, is open source, making it accessible for a wide range of uses and able to run locally on a variety of hardware. This is another point in the ethos of open source software: getting software into the hands of as many people as possible and collaborating.
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3. If you need encryption or other security features
Making the code publicly readable improves security measures
Security researchers often say that closed-source encryption is nonexistent, and while that’s a bit of an exaggeration, it’s a valid claim. Open source security features, like encryption, are inherently more likely to be secure. This isn’t necessarily because you’re smarter to keep an eye on security features and find vulnerabilities sooner, nor is it because closed-source encryption is bad; rather, knowing your code will be scrutinized makes you more secure from the start, reducing the chance of problems.
Open source encryption is more secure because the only secret is your password. The fewer secrets in your security features, the less likely they are to be exposed by a bug. Many popular password managers are also open source. They are vetted by the entire community of cybersecurity experts, rather than being limited to in-house or paid third-party audits. They encrypt complex, unique passwords that can only be decrypted by your master password. Because you can review the source code, you can see if your password vault is properly encrypted and if it has a backdoor.
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2. Reduction in initial costs
Open source software is often free, although you do have to worry about maintenance.
Although the “free” in Free Open Source Software (FOSS) refers to free of restrictions, not free of cost, many open source software programs are also free of license fees. Not only are there no up-front costs, but there are also no many other costs associated with typical closed source programs. Open source software typically has no multi-user access, no administrative needs, no upgrade fees, etc.
This makes the software especially attractive to businesses looking to reduce costs and reallocate budgets for better uses such as training, support, and development. Because the software is free, money that would have been allocated to subscriptions and other fees can be used elsewhere, benefiting the business in a number of ways. When some of that money is also spent on custom development of the open source software, the entire community benefits more broadly.
1. Personal Privacy
Your data is yours and will not be sold to anyone
Your personal data is valuable not only to you, but also to the companies that siphon huge amounts of data from users. This includes operating systems like Windows 11, which have activity tracking features that are one of many features used to track users. Apps and services also track the location of users and their devices, and all this data ends up in the hands of data brokers who sell it to whoever wants it. This is a big privacy issue, especially since that data could end up in the hands of bad actors.
Open source software often lacks telemetry capabilities to send information back to developers. When it does have telemetry capabilities, the information is usually limited to how users use the software so that developers can improve it or add features that users want. Because the open source community values privacy, software developers who try to implement tracking features are bashed, and we all know that certain software sends data to developers.
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The programs you already use are likely to use open source software
Free and open source software programs are used everywhere. They are implemented in almost every technology in every market. Even if the software costs money to use, many open source projects do not restrict commercial reuse as long as proper credit is given. As more companies focus on open source software and tools, open source projects will continue to make up a larger and better percentage of market share.
