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Open source isn’t a silver bullet - if the library isn’t updated frequently, or has some bugs in design, it can be tough to get them fixed. Maintainers tend to
by Bahamut 8y ago
Open source isn’t a silver bullet - if the library isn’t updated frequently, or has some bugs in design, it can be tough to get them fixed. Maintainers tend to be very protective of the codebases they steward too.
- bigger_cheese 8y agoSupport is a big thing as well for business software. When you buy "off the shelf" package from commercial vendor a large chunk of the cost is usually in support contracts. If you have a bespoke system built from open source components it can be difficult to find people able to support it. I think there are pros and cons to both approaches. Sometimes it can be frustrating trying to shoehorn the vendor supplied peg into your business's particular hole. I've heard a lot of people over the years complain to my manager "XYZ is crap I could write a better solution using ABC" the reply is usually along the lines of "Yeah but are you willing to spent the next 10 years supporting it."
- jdbernard 8y agoYes, I agree with GP that open source is often necessary. I agree with you that it is also not always sufficient. So companies do what they can to have the necessary control and also sufficient support: build it themselves.