When can and should open source software be modified?
Open source means not only access to code, but also the freedom to modify and customize it. With open licensing, companies can save time and resources by building on the solid foundation of already developed and widely used software. Adapting off-the-shelf systems, applications and tools allows you to meet specific, relevant requirements that off-the-shelf, available solutions do not.
Examples of open source customization
Create dedicated versions of Linux tailored to your needs
Software for specialty industries
Strengths of our services
System optimization and security
We create stable, resilient environments to meet the requirements of even the most critical applications. We ensure control over components and their source, which increases supply chain security and minimizes the risk of using unverified resources.
Technological control and independence
By creating dedicated software, we ensure full control over its composition and the origin of its components. This is especially important for companies that want to reduce dependence on a single vendor (vendor lock-in) and maintain maximum flexibility in managing their own software code resources (organizational codebase).
Versatility and portability
We deliver our prepared software in the form of Docker container images, preconfigured to run on the most popular containerization platforms, such as Kubernetes, Rancher, OpenShift and OpenStack. Our solutions are also compatible with major cloud environments, including Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and AWS, VMware and Proxmox virtualization platforms or as a repository. This provides flexibility and simplifies migration between different platforms.
Technical support and maintenance of the produced software
We offer maintenance support for the software versions we have modified. We provide its maintenance and upgrade capabilities. We offer its comprehensive technical support and troubleshooting of problems that arise during operation.
10 reasons why companies choose to develop their own versions of systems and applications based on existing open source projects
Adaptation to specific needs: Standard solutions may not meet an enterprise’s unique requirements. Modifying open source code allows you to fine-tune functionality to fit specific business processes.
Security control: Having full control over the source code allows companies to implement their own security standards, eliminate unnecessary components and respond more quickly to potential threats.
Independence from suppliers: In-house versions of the software reduce dependence on external vendors, which increases flexibility in managing IT infrastructure and allows better adaptation to changing market conditions.
Cost optimization: Using existing open source solutions as a base for further development can significantly reduce costs associated with software licensing and development.
Innovation and competitiveness: Modification and development of proprietary versions of the software enables the introduction of innovative features that can provide a competitive advantage in the market.
Regulatory Compliance: Adapting software to local regulations and industry standards is easier when a company has full control over its source code.
Support for specific technologies: Some industries use unique technologies or hardware that require specialized software. Open source modification allows integration with such systems.
Community and support: Open source projects often have active communities that can provide support, updates and new functionality, which accelerates the development of proprietary solutions.
Portability and interoperability: Open source software is often more flexible in terms of integration with other systems, making it easier to create cohesive IT ecosystems.
Transparency: Access to the source code provides full transparency of the software’s operation, which is important for audits and compliance with internal company policies.
10 challenges of developing and maintaining customized open source software
Compatibility and dependency management: Integrating custom features or components can cause conflicts with updates to the original open source design. Maintaining compatibility with the underlying design requires constant monitoring and dependency management to avoid compatibility issues.
Lack of commercial support: Dedicated open source versions often do not benefit from support from manufacturers. As a result, the company must rely on internal resources or external experts, which can generate additional costs and require specialized knowledge.
Long-term maintenance costs: Open source customization involves an initial investment, but a key challenge is the ongoing maintenance and updating of the software. Each new version of the basic design may require customization or updates to custom features, which generates maintenance costs.
Safety and compliance: With customized open source versions, the company itself must take care of ongoing security updates and compliance with internal and external regulations. This increases the risk of vulnerability, especially if the organization does not have the resources to deploy patches quickly.
Licensing challenges: Integrating various open source components can involve licenses with different requirements. Ensuring compatibility and avoiding license conflicts requires attention, especially when expanding systems and making custom modifications.
Knowledge flow and competence transfer: Software customization requires the transfer of knowledge to internal teams that need to be familiar with customized solutions and procedures. Retaining this knowledge during staff changes and transferring it between teams can be a challenge that hinders the smooth management of systems.
Scaling and integration difficulties: Specialized software versions may not be fully compatible with other technologies, limiting the ability to easily scale or integrate with new systems and tools. This results in more work to implement solutions that were not considered at the design stage.
Change management and testing: Any modification or integration of new features requires additional testing to make sure the system runs stably. This process can be complicated and time-consuming, especially in production environments where even minor changes can cause unforeseen consequences.
Taking care of documentation: Custom solutions often require the creation and maintenance of detailed documentation. Lack of accurate documentation can lead to problems in managing and maintaining systems, especially when handing over the project to new teams.
Community and community support: Software customization can limit the ability to take advantage of updates and community support, especially if the project deviates significantly from the original version. This makes it difficult to get help and solve problems that are not commonly found in the main project.