In order to understand Open Source software, you must also understand what open source software is not. We have therefore written a simplified analogy that illustrates the difference between Open Source software and its counterpart, so called proprietary software. The example used is based in building a house with the help of craftsmen.

Proprietary software

If you compare proprietary software to a building process, you could say that you pay for the materials and have to choose the carpenter, electrician and pipe layer that determined by the supplier. Once the house is complete, it is the supplier who owns your house, and use must use the same supplier if you want to clean it up. Under no circumstances do you have the potential to use other carpenters, electricians or pipe layers if you so wish.

Open Source software

However if you compare Open Source software with the building process, you obtain the materials for free and remain entirely free to choose the carpenter, electrician and pipe layer if you wish. Once the house is ready, you are the owner and you can choose whichever supplier you want if you wish to clean it up. You are also free to use any other electrician or pipe layer if you wish.

How does the supplier earn money?

The analogy sounds too good to be true. How does the supplier earn money by giving away the materials?

If we stick to the analogy, the supplier provides the carpentry, electrical and pipe laying services. In the case of software, the supplier typically provides services such as

• Installation and set up
• Project management
• Consultancy services and advice
• Adaptation and special development
• User support
• IT Operations
• Monitoring
• Upgrading
• Conversion and migration
• Training and certification

The supplier thus supplies you these services. On the other hand this does not mean that you have to use this supplier as you would if you chose locked software. If you require these services you can use the supplier or you can freely choose other service suppliers if you prefer.

Often the supplier has the best qualifications for providing these services since he created the program, but this is not necessarily the case. The supplier often has a range of certified partners who can also provide the same services.

The text is obtained from the National Cempetence Centre for Open Source's website.