Source Code Access · Licensing · Advantages & Disadvantages of Each
CSZoneEdexcel GCSE Computer Science 1CP2
Open Source Software
Source Code is Freely Available
Open source software has its source code made publicly available. Anyone can view, modify, and distribute it (subject to the licence). Often free of charge.
Advantages: free to use; community can find and fix bugs; can be customised; transparent (no hidden code)
Disadvantages: may lack professional support; may not be as polished; modifications require programming knowledge; can expose vulnerabilities
Proprietary (closed source) software: source code is owned by the developer and is not publicly available. Users pay for a licence to use it but cannot modify or redistribute it.
Advantages: professional support and updates; usually polished and user-friendly; protected IP
Disadvantages: costs money (licence fee); cannot be modified; dependent on the company's continued support
Examples: Windows, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, macOS
Choosing Between Them
Which is Best Depends on the Context
Schools, charities, and small businesses often prefer open source to reduce costs. Large enterprises may prefer proprietary for guaranteed support, reliability, and compliance.
Hybrid models exist: some software is free but the source code is not public (freeware)
Some companies release core tools as open source but charge for premium features (freemium)
Edexcel expects you to evaluate both sides — always justify your recommendation
Exam Practice
Have a go at this question
Edexcel-style question
A school is choosing between open source and proprietary office software. Give one advantage of each for the school context.
2 marks
Open source: free to install on many computers, reducing costs for the school [1]. Proprietary: comes with professional technical support and regular guaranteed updates [1].
Key Takeaways
What to Remember
Open source: free, modifiable, community-supported, transparent
Proprietary: costs licence fee, polished UI, professional support
Open source examples: Linux, LibreOffice, Python; Proprietary: Windows, Office, Photoshop
Always justify your recommendation based on the scenario given