Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Should Software Be Free?

Why is there such conflict over free software or open source software vs proprietary software? I honestly feel like there is a place for both in our world. Open source software is fantastic for its collaborative value. Developers can all contribute their good ideas or come to the source to learn from other great developers. Additionally, users can find a free program to serve just about any purpose they need fulfilled (e.g. Linux for a free OS). In general, I feel like open source contributes a lot to programming as a whole. However, paid software also serves an important role. I feel like proprietary software is much more important and widely-used by companies rather than individuals. In general, paid software feels like a more complete and polished product. It comes with better support and more accountability on the part of the developers who are selling the product. I don't think there should be big debates on free vs proprietary software; we should utilize them both.

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