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Compared with typical commercial products, open source offers significant benefits:

• Bug fixing

  Almost all software releases contain bugs. When a bug is spotted in commercial software, it can only be fixed by the original developers. With open source it is different. As a large number of users can access and modify the source code, bugs tend to be more visible and more rapidly corrected.

• Reliability

  Having access to the source code, users of that software are allowed to choose the approach to security that they want. It also makes it easier to detect security flaws in software, whether you are looking to fix them or exploit them. This will make open source more reliable.

• Customization

  Open source applications may be customized by anyone with requisite skills. Thus, open source software can be readily adapted to meet specific user needs.

• Translation

  With access to the source code, it is easy to translate the language of the software interface. By contrast, large commercial software vendors are usually unwilling to translate into languages that are less widely spoken, as those markets would be too small for them to guarantee profits.

• Learning from examples

  Open source code provides an excellent resource from which to learn, and the project offers a practical environment in which to test your skills.

• Cost

  Many open source programs can be obtained at no or very low cost. This is often important and in many cases the main reason for an individual to adopt a particular open source solution rather than a commercial source alternative.