Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is quite well-liked. Everyone, from users to government agencies and numerous business firms, uses FOSS for their jobs. However, according to the Linux Foundation, Free and Open Source Software has a lot of issues. Here, we have listed the most common issues with free and open-source software.
FOSS aims to make software better by making the source code available to users so they can study, modify, and report any bugs. Some developers make FOSS available for testing to improve the finished product. To learn more, you can read our article on “What Is Open Source Software and Why Does It Matter?” Here, we will discuss the issues with FOSS.
Most Common Issues with Open Source Software
There are many issues with free and open-source software. However, in this section, we will discuss some of the most common issues with FOSS.
1. Possibility of Security Breach Issues
From a detailed study and analysis, the Linux Foundation found only a small amount of data on the distribution of the software. They could not find the various ways in which FOSS packages find utility, despite having public data on various package downloads, software variations, and security flaws.
Free and Open Software is made available to the general public so that they can access it for studying and modifying purposes for free. Since it is easily available to all, it is very likely to exist in different modified versions unnoticed by the software developers.
To ensure that this doesn’t happen, it is of sheer importance that each instance of the software components is maintained very well; otherwise, a security breach is quite possible.
2. Lack of Standardized Naming Schemes
The Census II project, started by the Linux Foundation in 2018, found that there was an underlying issue of a lack of standardized naming schemes. Similarly, the Census I project, initiated in 2014, faced similar issues. The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has also been trying to cope with this problem for decades now.
The names of the software components were still unique and inconsistent by nature. NIST’s vulnerability management indicated that there was a lack of standardized naming schemes.
3. Lesser Security for Individual Developers
Many open-source software projects are hosted on individual developers’ accounts without much security, unlike organizational ones. The Linux Foundation reported that individual accounts are more prone to attacks by hackers and have a higher probability of losing their secured code.
Any changes can be made in the code of such individuals without being detected. Certain malicious programs may get into the individual’s code, including a takeover of his/her account or backdooring.
Hackers often use these methods to gain access to the code by installing these types of malevolent programs. This provides them with a ‘back door’ to the individual’s account. One way to handle this is to use two-factor authentication, if possible, which reduces this risk to some extent.
4. Deletion of Accounts over Disagreements
On certain disputes or disagreements, the individual holding the account may delete it permanently.
To ensure that projects are still available for reuse in the future and to increase the accountability of the projects, it is a good choice to shift to the option of organizational accounts rather than individual ones.
5. Legacy of the Open Software Components
This is also one of the issues with the FOSS. Reports have shown that the usage of this software poses the same threats and risks as their older and unsupported counterparts.
For example, if the software is released on a particular date, it needs regular updates; otherwise, the security of the software faces a setback. The erratic updates can lead to security risks, and their aftermath may last for quite a long time.
6. Less Technical Support
Since it is available for free for all users, it is hard to find any technical support from the developer’s side.
There are no warranties provided for virus threats and low performance. This is one of the major issues with free open-source software.
7. Not Compatible with All Platforms
Most of the platforms having the installed software are compatible only with the proprietary ones. A large percentage of the existing application platforms do not support Open Source Software.
This issue will arise at the time of launching or testing. You must have a broader spectrum of application platforms and check whether a particular one supports the software or not.
8. Competition amongst Developers
There is an ongoing battle among software developers who want their code to be installed in the original version. Different developers may have different views and add features to the initial source code. However, such modifications might not even fulfill the needs of the organization.
At the end of the day, it becomes a competition between developers who want the inclusion of their features by the company without considering what exactly is needed. It is of utmost importance that these developers work together to improve the code based on the company’s needs.
Conclusion
Despite having these disadvantages, Free and Open Source Software have gained a lot of attention over the last few decades. This is due to its mass accessibility and better security than proprietary software. It provides a chance for innovation for programmers.
Although there are some flaws in the FOSS, it is still a great initiative to expand into talented developers. So that, they can provide some insight on how to make the software better and include the extra essential features.
