The adoption of open source software or OSS, is more adopted today than it has ever been. Our need to connect with one another as social creatures, along with our progress through technology, and advancement of culture has borne a need for OSS, and it’s here to stay.

A key concept in the software industry, open source software is traditionally defined by software whose code is freely available, and is usually distributed and modified by many peers. A representation of human creativity and problem-solving skills as a unit, we’ve a lot to learn from our compatriots in coding.

Living in a World, Open Source

OSS isn’t anything you can describe as “new”. It’s not news to us that our world is intertwined with open source, if you take a look at what we use today. Twitter, Android, as well as WordPress content management and Linux operating systems, are fairly popular and widely-used examples of OSS.

Aside from what’s already being implemented, there’s a number of open-source programs on the internet, ranging from video editing, music management, and browser software; it’s a fair bet to assume there’s open source software to match a lot of needs out there today.

Our push to remote-first working environments in recent times has also proved a need for OSS in communication and collaboration, and experts are optimistic about the future of open-source. The article goes on to mention that OSS won’t be the only software around, which is a necessary distinction in helping to understand the supplementary role that we’ve currently allocated to this kind of software.

Impacts on Society

There’s some credibility to the idea that “open source” is a central fixture of modern operation, however. A number of medical, robotics, vehicular and even consumer technology are used under open-source agreements or as part of an “open-source hardware” venture.

The content field is also largely dependent on a number of open-source content management systems, the most famous example being WordPress, to cater to the diverse needs of that audience. In more light-hearted arenas, the craft world sees the “open source beer” - beer with free recipes for any amateur brewers to try their hand.

With all this, companies are beginning to consider the benefits and value that arises from this kind of concept.

Benefits to Society

A key tenet of OSS development is to build upon the work of your predecessors.

Building on this philosophy, more and more businesses have begun on implementation, busting myths and propagating the spread of open source culture. Aside from obvious cost implications (or lack thereof), the sheer number of contributions to the software ensures its stability and flexibility, given the crowd-sourced nature of work.

This advancement benefits society as a whole with higher quality products and more streamlined communication. With big name brands such as Android, Twitter, Mozilla Firefox as examples, none can doubt the quality behind the concept.

The software industry further benefits on its own with every contribution, further contributing to human development and growth on a different scale.

However, a much-less discussed benefit is the rise of so-called “open source hardware”, as mentioned earlier. In this case, the projects involve the transfer of the open source concept to physical lists, instructions, and construction of hardware. In recent times, this has seen value amongst scientific communities, specifically researchers. This highlights the potential value that OSS has as a public good - and even influencing social impact. Spearheading an effort of shared knowledge is an exciting thing to behold, as more projects like this take hold in more minds across the world.

A Realistic Look at OSS

It’s not all roses, however.

A great weakness of open source software is the vulnerability to threats - as anyone can change the code and most do for good - others can exploit it for self-gain or to add malicious exploits.

Another potential drawback is the fact that these are created with developer scenarios in mind - not for the use of the audience exclusively. Therefore, depending on the case, there will be some difficulties without training in the software.

All this will mostly translate into an hardware venture as well, in some cases exacerbated. One should always weigh the options and consider the hidden costs that may crop up.

It’s an interesting world we live in.

With every industry, comes a host of different values, beliefs, and even traditions. It’s strange to consider the far reaching effects of what started as an ideal around user freedoms, has gone onto influence modern communication and perception of a public good.

OSS is already pervasive throughout the world as part of our day-to-day lives, integrated into our social bubbles, and influencing more ideas as time passes. Stretching out from the digital beyond to influence the physical, we should consider how else we can implement this concept into the world.

Could we, then, influence such things as ownership? Collaborative efforts are the bedrock of any good open-source venture, and it’s interesting to consider how the norms of society and business may change when creating something with a completely different core concept.

Before running forward, we should also consider the weaknesses of using or adopting OSS concepts. User-friendliness and vulnerabilities to exploits are serious issues to consider and make up for. Do the drawbacks outweigh the potential, far-reaching benefits? However, we can at least agree that there is something to be learned from every industry in the world, be it physical or digital.