Open-Source vs Closed-Source Software?

Software Development

You've probably heard the terms 'open source' and 'closed source software' but have no idea what they mean. Fortunately, they are simpler to comprehend than they appear. Here's what you need to know.

Open-Source Software

Open source is software that anyone can access, i.e. it is public. Its licensing agreement allows anyone to share, view, and work on it. Open source code encourages community-oriented development in which everyone can exchange knowledge and collaborate. Open source software is itself free.

Because open source software is free to modify, it is an ideal candidate for hackers.

Closed-Source Software

Closed source software, usually referred to as "proprietary" software, prevents the general public from viewing or altering the source code. This software may only be viewed and altered by the original creators. Any additional user must sign a license (which is often displayed when you first run software) stating that they will not distribute it beyond permissions.

The code that a person types when creating a program is referred to as “source code”. This is distinct from binary code, which is the actual language that a computer speaks. After completing a program, a programmer will compile the “source code” into a binary code.

A human knows how to read source code. A computer knows how to read binary code.

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