Software Licenses (Edexcel IGCSE Ict)
Exam board Pearson Edexcel · IGCSEUpdated 2024-05-31
Free/open source & proprietary software
Spec point —
1.3.5
What is a software licence?
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A software licence is a legal agreement that lays out rules for how software can and can't be used
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There are two main types of software licence, each with very different rules on usage, distribution and support, they are:
- Free or open source
- Proprietary
Features of open source & proprietary software
| Software Licence | Features |
|---|---|
| Free | - Free to modify, study, copy or distribute |
| Open source | - Access to source code to edit/change - Able to edit and distribute |
| Proprietary | - Costs money - Produced by 'professional' companies - More regular official updates/support/upgrades/fixes |
Exam Hint In regard to free software, the term 'free' means free from restrictions and NOT the cost of the software
Advantages & disadvantages of open source & proprietary software
| Software Licence | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free or open source | - Allows collaboration with other people who may want the same modifications - Less buggy versions of the software may appear faster - Usually free, good for companies with limited budgets - Generally strong social support | - Relies on support of other users - To edit the code, you need expert knowledge - May not receive regular updates - Could be more open to exploitation through users adding malicious code |
| Proprietary | - Generally free customer support - Created to professional standards - Always someone to go back to with any problems | - Cost can be significant - Limited expansion, only what is available - Relies on one company - May not fully meet the need of the user/customer |
Worked Example State what is meant by the term ‘open source software’.
[2]
Answer
It is available to users [1] to modify /distribute / viewed [1]
‘Free’ (in relation to cost) is not accepted
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