Open source is everywhere. It is the backbone of our digital infrastructure but also plays an important part in the future of our digitalized world, regarding the digital sovereignty of enterprises in any sector as well as public institutions.
Nevertheless, open source as a concept is still surrounded by myths. Some of them, you might have come across yourself: that it is only for hobby projects, poorly documented and always free of charge. Misconceptions like these often keep organizations from considering an open source solution, even when it would clearly serve them better. In this article, we will debunk some very common myths about open source in order to provide a reliable basis for decision-making and show how OpenProject, as an open source software, fits in.
We’ll debunk the claims that open source software…
- is lacking essential features
- is unstable and full of bugs
- lacks in design and usability
- lacks professional support
- is not well documented
- is not meant for enterprise usage
- is always completely free
- is entirely built by volunteers
- is not updated regularly
Directly jump to the conclusion: The benefits of open source software
“Open source software simply can not provide the features I want.”
Well-maintained open source software can offer all the features you need. In fact, mature open source software is sometimes so advanced that it becomes the industry standard. Blender, a free, open source 3D software used to create Oscar-winning animated movies, is a well-known example of this. More examples can be found in the section about enterprise usage.
Of course, some open source products may lack features because they are not very advanced yet – like any product that is still in its infancy, whether open source or not. Professionally developed open source software often has precise, well-considered features, because it is frequently developed in close cooperation with end users and undergoes many feedback and testing cycles. Since open source software is often backed by a community, more people might care about its usability.
If you want to find out whether OpenProject is the right project management software for you, you can explore its features or compare it with other project management software.
“Open source software is not a functional alternative. I want stable, secure software without bugs!”
One of the most common misconceptions is that open source is unstable, unsafe, and buggy. Where does this misconception come from? Some people still think that open source code is only built by “amateurs” — why else would they reveal their code? However, open source does not mean that the code cannot provide value. It names the values that the code provides in addition to its functionality: transparency and digital sovereignty.
The fact that established open source software can be stable and secure is evident from how widely used it is. One great example is the OpenSSL library, that encrypts a large part of HTTPS traffic nowadays. And it is safe, not despite the fact that anyone can see it, but precisely because of that.
In proprietary software, by contrast, bug fixes are driven by business priorities. If a fix doesn’t generate revenue, it may be deprioritized. This wouldn’t work for open source. Since the code is public, its security is determined by the code itself and not by an assumption. Well-maintained open source software can reach a very high level of quality, precisely because it is cared for, tested, and reviewed by many people, since it is accessible to everyone.
Tip: How to choose the right software
How do you choose the right software for your organization — whether it’s open source or proprietary software? Here are a few tips on what to look for when making your selection.
- Know your priorities: how important are digital sovereignty, a European location, professional support, migration assistance etc. for your organization?
- Check whether the software meets your organization’s compliance requirements.
- Compare the total cost of ownership, including hosting, administration, training and maintenance – and also check how easily you could switch away later.
- Review the company details: main customers, location, size, revenue and so on.
- Study the company’s roadmap to see whether it’s a long-term option.
- Read reviews and, where possible, talk to current or former customers.
- Start a trial and test the software yourself.
“Open source software lacks in design and user experience.”
In the early days, open source software was primarily built by developers for developers and the focus was on functionality, not necessarily on appearance. That’s why this perception is understandable — even though things are very different today. Now that many professional open source projects are developed by companies, design and user interface receive far more attention.
One interesting example is PenPot, an open source design and prototype software which has become increasingly popular following Adobe’s announcement that it would acquire Figma. A project that builds design tools winning over designers clearly takes design seriously.
“Open source software never has professional support, but that is elementary for my organization.”
Although there are definitely open source projects, which do not offer professional support, there are many counterexamples. OpenProject is one of them.
This part is somewhat related to documentation: people who develop open source software, want people and companies to use it. And for companies in particular, reliable professional support is necessary to be able to use the software effectively within the organization. Therefore, when deciding whether to switch to an open source solution, support should be carefully evaluated. For OpenProject, the support options can be viewed here.
“Open source software is not documented. I don’t want to spend ages looking for my answers all the time.”
Although it may seem counterintuitive at first, it is often the opposite. In well-maintained projects, public code tends to be written cleanly, well-commented and accompanied by explanations. Most people who contribute to open source want others to use the software. They understand that this is only possible with clear, structured documentation.
OpenProject itself is a very good example. We provide a comprehensive user guide for everyone from end users to administrators, as well as detailed documentation and regular release updates. It is also very important to us to make the software and documentation available in as many languages as possible to facilitate onboarding and usage across language regions. If you would like to participate, please take a look at our resources on how to contribute to the documentation or provide translations.
“The concept of open source is not meant for enterprise usage, but for hobby projects”
Open source technology forms the backbone of our digital infrastructure and is used by large companies every day. One well-known example is the open source version control software Git, used by over ninety percent of the industry. People all over the world rely on Git, which is part of the day-to-day infrastructure of the world’s largest companies.
But there are more examples:
- Linux (and its distributions) is a free operating system. It runs on 92% of virtual machines across AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure platforms and is the basis for Android and therefore runs on billions of user devices.
- Kubernetes is open source software for container orchestration and has become the de facto standard in this field.
And this success and high adoption rate are not surprising, since mature open source software can offer what most companies are looking for: security, reliability and digital sovereignty. This is also true for enterprise-grade open source software. OpenProject’s many top-notch customers demonstrate that it works exceptionally well in enterprise environments.
“Open source software is always completely for free.”
Open source is not necessarily for free. Often, the “free” term in open source is misunderstood, as only related to price, though it is mainly related to the freedom and transparency aspect of the software. This refers to the freedom to use, study, modify, and distribute the software, as specified in the various licenses for open source software. Open source software licenses mainly differ in their copyleft obligations, patent grant conditions, and requirements for source code disclosure.
Remarque
OpenProject is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPLv3). That means everyone is free to use, modify and distribute the software, while the copyleft principle guarantees it stays open source – now and in any version built upon it.
And keep in mind: Even if software is “free of charge”, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s “cost-neutral” in terms of operating costs. Particularly with project management software like OpenProject, which can be deployed on a large scale, hosting, administration, and user training are important factors to consider in order to unlock the software’s full potential. That’s why OpenProject’s additional services, such as training and support, can really make a difference.
These paid plans, that include professional support and more, ensure free use for everyone while also guaranteeing the software’s continued development. And while the Enterprise add-ons can support more complex processes, the Community Edition is also a comprehensive project management software that anyone can use freely and without restrictions — with no subscription required after the trial period. Even with the paid plans, everything remains free with no vendor lock-in but full transparency and control over your data.
For more information on this topic, we also recommend our blog post “What is free and open source software and why can it cost money?”.
“Open source is entirely built by volunteers. What if they just cut their contributions?”
At OpenProject, developers, as well as other employees, are employed permanently. Although, open source software can be developed by both paid employees and volunteers. Major open source products such as Nextcloud or OpenProject are embedded in companies that ensure the product is continuously developed.
Open source is a principle unrelated to developer salaries. There are various ways a company can develop open source software and still earn money to pay developers for their work on the software. Examples include professional support services, consulting services, and training.
Furthermore, transparency and digital sovereignty are values that can be deeply embedded in a company’s structure, and the active community surrounding open source projects can also make open source companies attractive employers in their own right. You can read more on this topic in our blog article “What makes it special to be a developer for an open source software?”.
“Open source software is not updated very regularly. I need more reliability.”
As is the case with proprietary software, well-maintained open source software is updated regularly to enhance performance, ensure compliance and add new features. Of course, there have been projects that have fallen by the wayside in the past, both from companies and individuals. This occurs from time to time in software production and is not a trait unique to open source software.
A difference might be, that open source software actively welcomes feature suggestions and implements them. Often, there is also more transparency on upcoming features.
Remarque
At OpenProject, we follow this approach too and publish a new release every four weeks. You can submit feature suggestions and follow our roadmap to see what’s coming up next. For more details on past releases, take a look at our release notes.
Conclusion: The benefits of open source software
The value open source holds is hard to overestimate. And as soon as the myths are set aside, open source software appears not as a trade-off anymore, but as an equal competitor to proprietary software.
Any software company can provide poor support, cut corners on design or fall short of professional standards in other ways – this applies to all organizations, regardless of their licensing model. Open source is not a category of company, but a characteristic that benefits users. So if a company is well-established, focuses on quality and makes its users’ success its top priority, open source is simply an added bonus. Nevertheless, that is often exactly what makes the difference: digital sovereignty, transparency, and preventing vendor lock-in can be non-negotiable priorities.
As OpenProject is an open source software project we fully commit to offer everyone the control over their data in project management. Feel free to try out the software yourself, contribute to our Community or contact us with any questions.
