NURSING INFORMATICS

Joie Velasco
Difference between
Free Software and
Open-Source
Software
Free Software
 “Free software” means software that respects users’
freedom and community. Roughly, it means that the
users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study,
change and improve the software.
The term “free software” is sometimes misunderstood
—it has nothing to do with price. It is about freedom.
Advantages
• Cost: Free software is typically free to use, modify and
distribute.
• Freedom: Free software is often accompanied by a set of ethical
principles that promote users’ freedom to use, study, modify, and
share the software.
• Collaboration: Free software often encourages collaboration
among developers and users, leading to faster development and
better quality software.
• Transparency: Free software is often developed in a transparent
way, with the source code and development process available for
public scrutiny.
• Flexibility: Free software can be used on a wide range of
platforms and devices.
Disadvantages
• Support: While free software does have a community of developers and users, it may not
always have the same level of professional support as commercial software.
• Compatibility: Free software may not always be compatible with other software
applications and hardware devices.
• Security: Because free software is available for everyone to use and modify, it may be
easier for malicious actors to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
• Complexity: Free software can be more complex and difficult to use than commercial
software, especially for non-technical users.
• Documentation: Free software may not always have the same level of documentation and
user guides as commercial software.
Open Source
Software
• Open Source Software is something that you can modify
as per your needs, and share with others without any
licensing violation burden.
• When we say Open Source, the source code of the
software is available publicly with Open Source licenses
like GNU (GPL) which allows you to edit the source
code and distribute it.
• Read these licenses and you will realize that these
licenses are created to help us.
1.Coined by the development environments around
software produced by open collaboration of software
developers on the internet.

2.Later specified by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).

3.It does not explicitly state ethical values, besides those

Customization: The source code of open source software is available to everyone, allowing users to
modify and customize it to suit their needs.

Community support: Open source software often has a large community of developers and users who
contribute to its development and provide support.

Transparency: The source code of open source software is open for everyone to see, making it easier
to identify and fix bugs and vulnerabilities.

Flexibility: Open source software can be used on a wide range of platforms and devices.
 Disadvantages

• Support: While open source software does have a large community of developers and users, it
may not always have the same level of professional support as commercial software.
• Compatibility: Open source software may not always be compatible with other software
applications and hardware devices.
• Security: Because the source code of open source software is available to everyone, it may be
easier for malicious actors to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
• Complexity: Open source software can be more complex and difficult to use than commercial
software, especially for non-technical users.
• Documentation: Open source software may not always have the same level of documentation
and user guides as commercial software.
Similarities
• Both free software and open source software have access
to the source code, allowing users to modify and improve
the software.
• Both types of software often rely on a community of
users and developers to provide support and contribute to
the development of the software.
• Both free software and open source software are often
distributed under open licenses, allowing users to use,
modify, and distribute the software without restrictions.
Conclusion
Free software and open-source software are two distinct concepts, each with its
own strengths and weaknesses.

Free software is developed with the goal of promoting freedom and giving users
complete control over the software they use.

Open-source software is developed with the goal of producing high-quality

Ultimately, the choice between free software and open-source software depends
on the needs of the user and the specific problem they are trying to solve.