Is open source the right choice for your online training, teaching, or learning efforts? This article compares the difference between open source and proprietary software. Open source software has become mainstream. Applications such as the Firefox web browser and the Linux operating system are available to help in all areas of operation, including teaching and learning. Open source software has become a strong competitor in the online training and e-learning sectors. As technology continues to evolve, more open source offerings in the area of ​​e-learning will continue to emerge, continually changing the landscape of online teaching and learning in both academia and business.

Open source software has grown to include:

1. Learning Management Systems (LMS)
2. Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS)
3. Course creation tools
4. Tools to create multimedia elements such as animations, audio and video.
5. Browsers and players to present content
6. Libraries of teaching material

These resources have some important benefits:

1. Open source software is free to download, therefore it has a lower cost.
2. Flexibility and customization
3. Large active communities of builders and users that form a good support base.
4. Many open source applications run on multiple platforms, including Windows and Linux.
5. Compliance with established standards, which is a high priority for open source software development.
6. Ability to use and link to other open source software

Most proprietary software comes without source code, which is the code originally written by the programmer. Without this code, you have no right to change the way the software is developed. When you buy proprietary software, you are essentially buying the right to use the software in a specific way, and in many cases, the company that developed it owns the software and you simply buy the rights to use it.

The main difference between commercial support for proprietary software and commercial support for open source software is that proprietary software is required and open source software is optional. If you choose not to pay for support for proprietary software, you will lose the right to use it in most cases. Incidentally, the costs tend to be quite high for proprietary software.

Perceived advantages of proprietary software include:

1) Reliable and professional support and training available;
2) Packaged, integral and modular formats; Y
3) Regular and easily updated.

However, the downside is that it is:

1) Expensive, and
2) has closed standards that hinder further development.

Open source software has the advantage of:

1) Low cost and no license fees;
2) Open standards that facilitate integration with other systems; Y
3) It is easily customizable.

The negative side is:

1) Lack of professional support;
2) Evolving developer communities;
3) uncoordinated release; Y
4) Erratic updates. However, with such a large development and user base, many discussion forums and help sites are available to users.

So what is the right solution for you and your organization? In general, for smaller organizations and projects, open source solutions seem to suffice. The difference in cost more than makes up for the perceived disadvantages mentioned above. Larger organizations seem to require more robust, high-quality products with high levels of service and support. They want accountability, reliable assistance, and support from their providers.

With the rapid development of technology, it is likely that you will be able to find tools to meet your training needs, whether in the commercial or open source sector. But open source offers unique advantages including filling the low-cost, high-control niche that is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve through proprietary commercial avenues.