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As a user, the main disadvantage I see in using open source libraries is that the person that provides it to you for free might stop maintaining it. So sometime
by lecarore 5y ago
As a user, the main disadvantage I see in using open source libraries is that the person that provides it to you for free might stop maintaining it. So sometimes going the paid, non free software way could be beneficial. I'm thinking of typical enterprise app libraries like WYSIWYG editors, spreadsheets, etc..
In desktop app, the open source front-ends are generally less beginner friendly than those of closed source software, because optimizing them is a lot of work that requires skills different from those of the typical open source dev. There are many exception though : blender, inkscape, kdenlive have very well thought out UIs imo.
- yakubin 5y agoIf the provider of proprietary software ceases maintaining it, you are dead in the water. If the provider of open source software ceases maintaining it, you can pay someone else to maintain it. E.g. there are a lot of freelance jobs related to ffmpeg, a lot of video software experts knowing it, so you may sleep well, not worrying that the developer of ffmpeg will someday sabotage your business. On the other hand, when another company provides a binary blob library to you, when they go down, you go down with them (if you rely on them too much).