Types of Software

Many people confuse Open Source Software with other types of software. Here is a brief summary of the different types of software licenses:

Open Source Software
This software is freely available to users as source code. Users are free to redistribute it to anyone and make any modifications that they like to the code. Open Source Software relies on a broad group of community developers that collaborate to advance the project. Because anyone can view the source code and there are generally a large number of developers, it is very difficult for malicious code to find its way into Open Source.

Freeware & Adware
Like Open Source, Freeware is available at no cost and may be redistributed to anyone. Unlike Open Source, Freeware's source code is not available to the public. While there are many high quality Freeware applications, they are typically designed by individuals or small development groups rather than large communities. Since the source code is not public, it is easy for unscrupulous developers to slip malicious code into Freeware applications without the end user's knowledge. Freeware applications that are supported by in-program advertising or that collect marketing data on users are called Adware.

Shareware & Crippleware
Shareware programs may be freely distributed, but they require the user to purchase them after evaluating the program. While true shareware is not limited prior to purchase, much of the software in this category is actually Crippleware. Crippleware places limits on the functionality of the program. Prior to registration, these programs do not allow you to perform certain functions or do so only in a limited fashion. When you purchase the software, you get the fully functional version. Like Freeware, it is possible to hide malicious code in Shareware and Crippleware applications.

Commercial & Proprietary Software
Commercial software is what most users think of when they envision software. It is usually produced by a company rather than an individual and is distributed as most other commercial products through retail outlets and online. Although some products may offer limited demo versions, you must pay for the license of commercial software before you use it. You are not free to distribute it to others and you must purchase a license for each computer on which you install the software. Although the source code is not available for public review, popular Commercial Software generally undergoes strong quality control and it is free of malicious code. The term Proprietary Software technically refers to any closed source software, but it is most often used to describe Commercial Software.