Open Source

Software
Assessment
Part B: Open Source Software Comparison Table
• In this section, you should conduct research into a suitable software solution.
You should decide on the set of characteristics which you will use to evaluate
the software and your research should consider 4-5 alternatives in detail. This
section should be presented as a table.
 What’s the difference?
Open Source Software Proprietary Software

Can be without copyright. Source code is Copyrighted for limited use modification
available for modification. A number of and distribution.
programmers can continue the It belongs to the vendor/developer and
development. Often free or low cost you must pay to use it and only use it
option. within the terms of the contract.

Image source: https://www.techasoft.com/post/open-source-software-vs-proprietary-software

Advantages
Availability of source code: Source
code which can be used to develop
understanding/learning
Does not depend on vendor:
Opportunities to adapt to change
Quality and Customizability in open
source is better.
Costs much less than proprietary
counterparts.
Disadvantages
.
Not always straightforward – requires
experience
Possible incompatibility issue with
software and hardware
Software quality assurance issues -
process is widely not transparent
No financial gain – all for the good of
the user group
Open-Source Digital Content
Open-Source Office
Software
• Open Office: Apache OpenOffice is an open-source office
productivity software suite with official website OpenOffice.org,
launched in 2002 under the Apache License

• LibreOffice: Developed by The Document Foundation, it is licensed

under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). It supports
Windows, Macintosh and GNU/Linux systems.

• NeoOffice: Primarily designed for Mac users and is distributed under

the GNU General Public License.

• Koffice: It is an open-source office suite licensed under the LGPL. It

is available for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and Mac OS X systems.
Discussion

• Why might a business choose to integrate open-source

software into the technology strategy for their organisation?

• In what circumstances might you advise a company to use

open-source options?

• How might you decide if the option-source option is

feasible for a certain case?
REMEMBER THIS…
The Assessment
Part B: Open Source Software Comparison Table
• In this section, you should conduct research into a
suitable software solution. You should decide on the set
of characteristics which you will use to evaluate the
software and your research should consider 4-5
alternatives in detail. This section should be presented as
a table.

There is some very useful preparation work that you can

do as independent study to prepare for this part of the
assessment.
• You could do this by using the Phonophile case study or
the assignment brief (Music Mates), or both.
Let’s take a look at ‘characteristics for evaluation’ of OSS.
Possible
characteristics
or ‘aspects for
evaluation’
include… Source: https://dwheeler.com/oss_fs_eval.html

You may not be able to find all the answers, but you
should try!
To review open-source software you can use the sourceforge site
• sourceforge: https://sourceforge.net/
 OSS option 1 OSS option 2 OSS option OSS option OSS option 5
Review the OSS options (name) (name) 3 (name) 4 (name) (name)
you have selected
using this table. Functionality
Cost
Some information will Market share
be available through Support
SourceForge site, some Maintenance
you will have to search Reliability
for elsewhere, and Performance
some you may not be Security
able to find. Legal, Policy, Licence
 You should be considering questions such as:
In addition to
reviewing the •Can you try the software (is there free trial)?
information on •What can you find out relating to aspects of
sourceforge, you online security? 
should do further •What other issues have been reported
research for a more (advantages and disadvantages of the system)
detailed analysis.
Based on this additional information, would
you still recommend this software and why?
• Remember that you can discuss your
background work with your colleagues via
the discussion board.
Original material: Dr Gordon Fletcher

Additions and amendments to content over time:

Dr Maria Kutar
Dr Yun Chen
Dr Suzanne Kane.