Open-Source vs Commercial Data Analytics Platforms: Pros and Cons

Recently, organizations are turning to open-source solutions, even in areas that have traditionally been associated with proprietary software. A recent survey of 950 IT leaders across the globe found that 68% of respondents said they have seen an increase in Open-Source vs. Commercial Software adoption at their companies in the past year, and 59% anticipate doing so within the next year.

So, what is the difference between open-source vs. commercial software? Let us have a look at the pros and cons of both options to help you decide which one is right for your business.

What Is an “Open-Source” Software?

The term “open-source” is used to describe software that is open-source to anyone who can access the software’s source code. There are more than 50 licensed open-source software licenses available. These licenses range from “permissive” licenses that allow you to do almost anything with the software, to “more strict” licenses that require stricter enforcement of how the software is used.

Pros of Using Open-Source Software:

1.      Open-source software is free, meaning you don't have to worry about paying for licenses. There is no need to go through a corporate approval process to use open-source software.

2.      You don't have to pay for licenses for any type of paid software. You can use open-source software for free. You do not need to worry about corporate approval for bug fixings.

3.      The software may be cross-platform or cross-device. For example, many professional designers use the cross-platform open-source tool Inkscape instead of Adobe Illustrator.

4.      The software can be audited easily for security reasons. From a security point of view, the biggest benefit of using open-source software is that it is transparent by default. Anyone with sufficient technical knowledge can review the source code to identify and resolve or report potential security vulnerabilities.  Some open-source software companies offer bug bounty programs to contribute to their products’ security.

5.      Today, the vast majority of open-source software products are developed within corporations. It’s not unusual for more than 90% of open-source project code to come from the same people who write commercial software. Take a look at the best corporate GitHub contributors.

Cons of Using Open-Source Software:

1.      The software may not be ready for off-the-shelf use. It may not be compatible with existing software and hardware. It may need to be installed and maintained by an assigned specialist.

2.      The support is done by computer hobbyists, not by paid employees.

3.      Open-source products are only secure for the time they are actively managed and supported. According to the 2019 Open-Source Security Review Association (OSSARA) report, over 40% of Open-Source codebases contain high-risk vulnerabilities. The oldest and most persistent unfixed severe vulnerability was found in the FreeBSD codebase. This flaw is now 28 years old.

4.      James Kyle, one of the most well-known contributors to the open-source JS libraries, has talked about the “Open Source Maintainer Burnout”. “Sometimes the contributors leave the projects after being bombarded with negative feedback about their work. About 16% of all open-source projects end up as abandonware. And 59% of those projects never find new core contributors to recover from.”

5.      The future of software development and support may be unclear or restricted. Many factors affect the future of the open-source projects after their launch. Some of them cannot be predicted or foreseen.

6.      Even the most popular and well-trusted open-source software can contain security vulnerabilities. Take QEMU, an open-source virtual machine (VM) solution that’s integrated with many of the world’s leading cloud-based service providers. In 2015, a critical vulnerability in QEMU’s code went undetected for the previous 11 years and was traced back to floppy disks.

What is Commercial Software in Data Analytics?

Commercial software is a type of software or program that is designed and developed for licensing or selling to end users or for a commercial purpose. While commercial software was once thought of as proprietary software, many open-source and free software applications are now licensed or sold directly to end users.

Commercial software is typically licensed rather than sold. It used to be the province of proprietary software, created from the ground up by a particular company to solve a particular problem or fill a particular niche and then sold or licensed to the end users or organizations that needed it. Examples of commercial software include financial, marketing, and accounting software. In recent decades, however, there have also been open-source applications that have become commercial software, sold directly to customers or licensed as a service.

Pros of Using Commercial Software:

1.      The program is accessible without any major licensing restrictions. For every type of commercial software, there exists a complimentary open-source software option that offers comparable functionalities.

2.      There is no need to go through a corporate approval process for bug fixes as they can be applied in a matter of minutes.

3.      The software may be cross-platform or cross-device. For example, many professional designers use the cross-platform open-source tool Inkscape instead of Adobe Illustrator.

4.      The program can be thoroughly checked for safety reasons. From a security standpoint, the major advantage of utilizing open-source applications is their inherent transparency. By nature, they allow for easy examination of their source code, enabling individuals with sufficient technical knowledge to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities. Certain open-source firms even provide rewards for bug submissions that aid in enhancing the security of their offerings.

5.      Today, the vast majority of open-source software products are developed within corporations. It is not unusual for more than 90% of open-source project code to come from the same people who write commercial software. Take a look at the best corporate GitHub contributors.

Cons of Using Commercial Software:

1.      There is no guarantee that the software will work as expected. You’d expect a high-performance and secure solution when you have a corporate image, QA, and professional support behind it. But that doesn’t always happen.

2.      According to the Software Fail Watch, 606 companies lost more than $1.7 billion due to software failures last year.

3.      Strict licensing policies. More than a quarter of businesses say they over-license because they’re worried about software audits.

4.      Suppose the vendor decides to pull the plug on the software. Business owners will need to search for a new software package that’s comparable. Moving to a new solution may not only take more time and money, but it can also lead to data migration and integration

5.      Risk of Software License Waste. Apart from software that’s essential for your business, there’s a good chance that the app will sit there unused. Various studies suggest that 30-37% of all commercial software licenses in companies are wasted or underutilized. Among the most underutilized enterprise software are: Camtasia Studio; Adobe InDesign; and Crystal Reports.

In conclusion, the debate between Open-Source vs. Commercial Software, which is the best data analytics software platform? Commercial software has both benefits and drawbacks. Commercial software offers support guarantees, timely updates, and patches, and is free and customizable. Open-source software, on the other hand, has hidden costs associated with maintenance, training, and security issues. Regardless of Open-Source or Commercial Software directing towards the type of licensing, most good practice involves professional developers who can set up and customize the environment to meet the specific needs of your business.