Contact us anytime to know more — Amit A., Founder & COO CISIN
More and more companies are adopting open-source technologies to improve their business results and gain a competitive edge.
It's no surprise that the software industry is increasingly reliant on the use of open-source technology. Our list included the top open-source technologies in 2023.
Open Source Technologies: What are They?
Open Source refers to a licensing agreement that allows the source user to inspect, copy and modify a piece of software and to redistribute it freely.
They also have access to its source code. Open Source development is software created by developers who have pledged to release the source code to all users.
On the other hand, closed-source software is proprietary, and only its creator has the legal right to copy, examine, or modify the source code. The top Open Source technologies are based on transparency, openness, community development, and shared participation.
Open-source software, however, is only sometimes free. Although open-source software's source code is free, it is only sometimes available with a subscription.
Open-source software is the best because it allows users to modify, distribute and download without paying any licensing fees.
Open-source software development can include operating systems, apps, databases, gaming, programming languages, etc.
Non-programmers and programmers can use open-source software because anyone with the skills can innovate. Source effort code available to all has advantages for businesses and programmers. Open-source software can be customized to suit a business's needs, or innovations that were not in the source code are possible.
People worldwide use open-source software such as Linux and browsers such as Firefox to create websites and apps.
How Open Source Technology Works?
Anyone can view, modify, and distribute the source code for open-source software. Public repositories are shared online spaces where developers can store open-source software.
As its name suggests, a public repository is open to all developers and allows them to collaborate, work on projects together, and track changes. Anyone can access the repository and the code to improve or use it independently.
Open-source developers also choose a distribution license that defines the terms under which their software can be used, studied, modified, and distributed.
Apache License 2.0 and GNU General Public License 2.0.3 are the more popular licenses. Developers who use open-source software to make modifications must provide documentation of their changes and how they did it.
The license may stipulate whether or not software must be provided free of charge.
The Benefits and Downsides of Open-Source Technology
It is not different from Open-source technology. Open-source technology has its benefits but also some disadvantages.
Open-Source Technology: Benefits
There are many advantages to open-source Technology:
-
Bigger flexibility.
Users can use The source code in many ways to tailor the software according to their needs.
-
The ability to customize is an advantage.
The software can be tailored to suit the individual needs of users.
-
Many developers can view the code.
That increases the chances of finding security issues.
- Reliability, Because of its transparency, open-source software is often used by developers to create, test and improve a product.
-
Transparency.
Open-source software is transparent and lets the user see what and how the software works.
-
Communities of Open-Source Software users that actively collaborate and share knowledge, resources, and expertise.
That can all lead to innovative and creative solutions.
As you can see, open-source technology offers many advantages. Open-source software is customizable, transparent, and simple to monitor.
Many developers can access open-source software. Your code is guaranteed to be secure and reliable.
What are the Downsides of Open-Source Technology?
Open-source software has its downside:
-
Security concerns.
Both pros and cons come with open-source software.
Hackers can easily find and exploit vulnerabilities in the source code because it is publicly available.
-
Too many options.
You need help to choose the best open-source software for you easily.
There are many versions of open-source software, making it difficult to select.
-
Hidden costs Open-source software has hidden costs.
They include the hardware needed to run the software, training for personnel, integrations with third parties, maintenance, and more.
Want More Information About Our Services? Talk to Our Consultants!
Open Source Tools Technology Examples
Businesses often use the term digital open-source technology to search for solutions.
That can make their company run more efficiently and increase profits. They may need to learn what open-source software means but can use it to achieve their goal. Learn what open-source software is and which types of software are used by the leading software companies.
Also, we will discover what the most popular open-source software examples are for 2023.
The ten examples of open-source software show you the variety and quality available. The open-source community is an excellent tool for creating, collaborating, and innovating, regardless of your experience or profession.
1. Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox, an open-source and free browser for the internet, allows users to personalize it. You can install thousands of plugins with a single click.
The plugin is compatible with Android and Windows. CNET reported that Mozilla had reshaped the technology and changed operating systems and social networks.
2. LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a full-featured office suite with spreadsheets, databases, and presentations. LibreOffice is completely free, unlike Microsoft Office, which charges a high price and makes the software unavailable to everyone.
When downloading, users can donate to the project. There is a large community of contributors. It can be used on Mac OS, Linux, and Windows. The program also includes a chat room and a forum.
3. GIMP
GIMP is yet another example of open-source software. The free software offers the same filters and effects as expensive commercial products.
GIMP is available on different platforms, including Windows and Linux. The program has a variety of third-party plugins and customization features. It is used by many illustrators, graphic designers, and photographers to improve and enhance their photos.
4. VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player, one of the most popular open-source programs available for download, is a great example.
It plays audio, video, streaming streams, and webcams. Most users use it for streaming podcasts. Audio and video can be optimized for different hardware configurations. You can also customize the design with skins and extensions.
The software runs on several platforms, including Android, Mac OS X, and Windows.
5. Linux
According to a survey, 83.1% of developers say Linux is the platform of choice. Linux is among the easiest open-source software to use.
Linux is most commonly used for Android devices and desktops. It is distinctive because it's completely free, and you can customize the operating system. The high level of security and excellent community support make it a popular operating system.
6. Blender
Blender will be the top-rated mobile application in 2023. The 3D graphics and animation tool includes motion tracking, simulation, and other features.
Also included are video editing, rendering, and other features. It includes several features, such as real-time previews. The software is compatible with Planar tracking and Tripod Solvers.
7. GNU Compiler Collection
GNU Compiler Collection is a collection of tools for developing software, including C++, Ada Fortran, and other languages.
Regular updates and high-quality releases are provided. The software also supports native and cross-targets. Weekly snapshots or SVN both provide free access to the source code.
8. Python
Python is one of the most popular programming languages custom software developers use. It will become the most popular language.
Recent growth in the machine-learning area has brought many new users to it. Open-source software is popular among developers because it's easy to use.
9. PHP
PHP is a good example of free software. This programming language can be used to build websites and platforms for digital technologies.
Slack and Spotify, among other sites, are powered by this flexible software.
Read More: How to Make Money with Open-Source Software
10. Shortcut
Shotcut is a video editor with many powerful features, such as webcam capture and audio, noise generators, and counters.
It also supports popular image formats. That is a great tool for editing audio and video. This software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
On the site, you can access tutorials and other resources about using open-source software. Now that you have seen some of the best examples of Open-Source Software let's go back to the basics.
Six Reasons Why Open Source Technology Reduces Costs
Some companies use Open Source technology to accelerate development. Others are motivated by cost-savings or flexibility.
We discussed how OSS accelerated development last week. Let's now explore how Open Source Software reduces development costs.
Six Reasons Open Source Technology Reduce Costs:
OST has been proven to reduce the costs of development in a variety of ways. It can be much less expensive to acquire than commercially-licensed software or in-house-developed software.
The cost-savings do not stop at acquisition; they also extend to support and maintenance. Open source software can be used to:
- A recent report reported 20-55% savings compared to commercial solutions.
-
Avoid functionality overload and bundling - Many proprietary products have features that customers rarely need or want.
They are often bundled, so they have to be paid anyway.
- To avoid unwieldy, closed-system deployments – OSS eliminates costly price games and traps associated with commercial sales negotiations and pricing.
-
Helps prevent vendor lock-in.
Customers can switch vendors, or drop the commercial support, even when commercial OSS vendors provide a way to deliver Open Source and support.
-
That helps you avoid proprietary solution consulting traps.
OSS can also help with costs for consulting, training, and support because it does not have exclusive access to technology.
Support can be obtained from multiple sources, including a community of active developers working on the code daily.
-
Community support can be a great benefit.
Active communities are often more supportive than commercial organizations, and, what's better, it is completely free.
OSS gives your company a competitive edge, whether you choose it for the speed at which development can be done, its lower costs, or flexibility.
The Most Popular Open Source Technology
The open-source computer software program is very popular.
1. Open Source CRM
The CRM software allows companies to manage customer relations better and meet their customers' needs. This software helps businesses improve their customer service and boost profitability.
This software can help you be more organized and productive. You can customize them, but they also need some technical know-how.
2. Open Source Project Management
You can keep track of your tasks and projects with open-source project management software.
You can organize yourself and manage several projects at once. Many project management tools are available for free and open Source. There are also versions available for purchase.
3. Open Source Video Games
You can modify and use open-source games for free. The games can be shared by designers and developers across platforms.
Comes with many of these games as standard. You can download and install the games on Mac OS, Windows, or both. Even open-source games are subject to licensing restrictions.
4. Blockchain Open Source
Blockchain software allows you to keep track of transactions. Each time someone makes a transaction, the information is recorded in an Excel sheet that's accessible to everyone.
A disadvantage of this platform is that all users must agree on adding data. The software is secure. The financial sector is the primary user of blockchain software. The software is used widely in electronic governance, voting online, eCommerce, and other areas.
Read More: Why Consider Open-Source Development For Your Next Web Application Development Project?
Top 4 Open Source Technology Trends for 2023
The open-source community manager and projects continue to thrive. Every year, new projects and tools are introduced for teams that want to innovate.
1. Open Source Security: Increasing Security Awareness Through Best Practices
As it was last year, open-source security will remain a major topic in 2023. We want to avoid another critical zero-day vulnerability, like that of the Library, to make everyone aware of how vital open-source security is.
Open-source software used in our essential infrastructures, such as nuclear power plants, electrical grids, transportation systems, and hospitals, has prompted global action to protect these entities.
We saw the Open Source Software Security Mobilization Plan launched last year with ten funding streams and legislative initiatives like the European Cyber Resilience Act and Securing Open Source Software Act, which we recently.
In 2023 we'll continue to see global investments made into making open-source software more secure.
In addition, we will see a greater convergence of best open-source security practices and more widespread adoption of these practices.
For example, requiring a Software Bill of Materials. SBOMs are a great way to improve software security. That is especially true for commercial software. SBOMs are like the nutritional and ingredients information you find on products you purchase at a supermarket.
They tell you what's in them. Organizations that develop software, including open-source code, will be under more pressure to keep up with the latest patches and maintain higher standards of IT compliance both internally and outside.
We all agree that more oversight will be a positive thing. So many industries use Open Source; we want it to remain safe.
Enterprise IT teams and developers should prepare for increased scrutiny. That could mean obtaining long-term technical support for end-of-life software that they deploy (e.g., CentOS and AngularJS are two of the most popular options.
Enterprises should plan software upgrades and migrations to safeguard their mission-critical applications.
2. Open Source Technology Helps Enterprises to Grow Strategically and Mature
Last year, in the State of Open Source Report, 77% of respondents said that they increased their open-source usage in the year prior; this year, it grew to 82%.
One of the main reasons for OSS adoption is to be able to influence and contribute towards open-source projects. Open Source is no longer about saving money or improving innovation and development speed. It has now become more of a strategic business decision.
By 2023 we are confident that open-source implementation will become more sophisticated and strategic. That can be seen in several ways:
-
Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) are virtual offices that are a central hub for open-source operations.
They cover everything from compliance and guidance to training and even promoting community engagement.
-
Nominate someone to the executive level who will lead OSS security and compliance and oversee open-source licensing.
A Chief Open Source officer, COSO, is a great addition to a CISO or CTO.
- Contributing to Open Source projects is a way of improving your skills (reducing skill gaps) and strategically exercising influence.
We see that more organizations are moving from being merely consumers to becoming contributors and sometimes even leaders.
Don't be shocked if, in 2023, you see Chief Open Source Officer positions on LinkedIn!
3. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning: Legal and Ethical Issues
The landscape changes so rapidly that it's hard to predict the future of AI/ML/DL. It feels as if the industry is changing radically every day.
We can say with certainty that technology moves faster than public policy or opinion. It may take some time for them to catch up.
Rapid AI/ML/DL advances over the last year have brought up some difficult issues. Open Source also plays a role in the discussion since much of the software used to ingest and train ML/DL models and the infrastructure hosting AI/ML/DL is open-source.
For example, Apache Spark, and certain data sets, are available under open-source licenses. Open Source will also be a major competitor in the hardware market, which NVIDIA currently dominates.
A lot is said about the data and intellectual property rights that artists and creators have whose works are used for training sustainable models, which then produce "new" artwork.
Is that legal? Artists should be compensated for the inspiration or Source of AI-produced content.
AI-assisted, which is similar, uses billions of lines and models of source code that are publicly available to provide code suggestions for developers.
However, software developers and attorneys disagree on whether this violates the rights of those who have posted their code under open-source licensing, which requires attribution. Or if the copying of code constitutes piracy. Amazon CodeWhisperer, Project CodeNet, and other offerings are available in this space.
In 2023 we will not have resolved all the issues surrounding AI licensing and ethics, but more people will become aware of these problems, and there will be improvements made in tooling.
We'll reach a consensus about the best ways to tackle these issues.
4. Open Source Technology and CentOS Alternatives are Gaining Popularity
It's always fun to predict which technologies are going to be more popular in the next year. We predicted correctly a rise in Kubernetes usage corresponding to the growth of microservice-based container architectures a few years back.
CentOS 6 and 8 have already been retired, and CentOS 7 will soon be too. More companies will switch to Enterprise Linux options like Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux.
CentOS Stream is an active rolling release more suitable for development and test environments.
OpenSearch (an open-source fork of Elasticsearch, Kibana, and previous versions) will also become popular, like Elasticsearch.
OpenSearch will reach the same level of usage as Elasticsearch in 2023.
Want More Information About Our Services? Talk to Our Consultants!
Wrapping Up
Switching to open-source technology from proprietary development is not a good idea. Prematurely adopting the Open Source model could harm the economy.
It is better to adopt Open Source technology Development gradually.
Open Source is more ethical than proprietary development. That is a good fit for many ethical systems. Utilitarianism is a good example, which says that the best course of action will be the one with the greatest benefit for most individuals.
Undoubtedly, an open application with more features, the open one, is better for society.
