Is Open Source the Right Option for Your Online Training, Teaching, or Learning Efforts? This article compares the difference between open source and proprietary software. Open source software has gone…
Open source software now includes:
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS)
Course authoring tools
Tools to create media elements such as animations, audio and video
Browser and player for presenting content
Courseware Libraries
These resources have a few key benefits:
Open source software is free to download and therefore less expensive.
flexibility and adaptability
Extensive active developer and user communities that form a good base for technical support.
Many open source applications run on multiple platforms including Windows and Linux.
Compliance with established standards, which is a high priority when developing open source software.
Ability to use and link to other open source software
Most proprietary software comes without the source code originally written by the programmer. Without this code you have no right to change the way the software is developed. When you…
The main difference between commercial support for proprietary software and commercial support for open source software is that proprietary software is mandatory and open source software is optional. In most…
Perceived benefits of proprietary software include:
1) Reliable, professional support and training available; 2) Packaged, comprehensive, modular formats; and 3) Updated regularly and easily.
However, the downside is that it:
1) Expensive and 2) has closed standards that impede further development.
Open source software has the following advantages:
1) Low cost and no license fees; 2) Open standards that facilitate integration with other systems; and 3) it is easily customizable.
The downside is:
1) lack of professional support; 2) Evolving developer communities; 3) lack of release coordination; and 4) Irregular updates. However, with such a large development and user base, there are many…
So what is the right solution for you and your organization? In general, for smaller organizations and projects, open source solutions seem to be sufficient. The difference in cost more…
With technology evolving at a rapid pace, chances are you can find tools to meet your open source or commercial training needs. However, open source offers unique benefits, including filling…
Thanks to Sophia Peters