By Shahabuddin Amerudin
Proprietary software, also known as closed-source software, refers to software that is owned by a person or company and is not released under an open source license. The source code for proprietary software is kept confidential and is not made available to the public, except under certain conditions. This type of software is in contrast to open source software, which is developed and maintained by a community of developers and is freely available to the public.
There are some cases where the source code for proprietary software is eventually released, either voluntarily or as a result of legal action. For example, some companies have released the source code for older versions of their software after they have become obsolete, in order to allow developers to create patches and updates for those versions.
In some cases, the source code for proprietary software may be released under certain conditions, such as in the case of shared source software programs, which allow limited access to the source code under a specific set of licensing terms.
Proprietary software has been around since the early days of computing, and it continues to be used extensively in many industries and fields today. One example of a field that relies heavily on proprietary software is Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS software is used for mapping and spatial analysis in a variety of industries, including urban planning, natural resource management, and agriculture.
One of the most widely used GIS software products is ArcGIS, developed by Esri. ArcGIS is a proprietary software product, and the source code is not publicly available. However, Esri has developed a number of APIs (application programming interfaces) that allow developers to build custom applications on top of the ArcGIS platform. These APIs provide access to a wide range of geospatial data, including satellite imagery, terrain data, and street maps.
Another popular GIS software product is MapInfo Pro, developed by Pitney Bowes. Like ArcGIS, MapInfo Pro is a proprietary software product, and the source code is not publicly available. However, Pitney Bowes has developed a number of APIs that allow developers to build custom applications on top of the MapInfo Pro platform.
In addition to these proprietary GIS software products, there are also a number of open source GIS software products available, such as QGIS and GRASS GIS. These products are developed and maintained by a community of developers, and the source code is freely available to the public.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using proprietary GIS software products. One advantage is that these products often have more features and functionality than open source products, due to the resources and funding that are available to the companies that develop them. Proprietary software products are also often easier to use and have better user interfaces than open source products.
However, there are also some disadvantages to using proprietary GIS software products. One disadvantage is that they can be expensive, and may require ongoing licensing fees. In addition, because the source code is not publicly available, it can be more difficult for users to customize and modify the software to meet their specific needs.
One way to mitigate these disadvantages is to use a hybrid approach, where proprietary and open source software products are used together. For example, a company may use a proprietary GIS software product for its core mapping and spatial analysis needs, but use open source software products for specific customizations or extensions to the core software.
In conclusion, proprietary software products, including GIS software products, have both advantages and disadvantages. While they may offer more features and functionality than open source products, they can also be expensive and may be more difficult to customize and modify. By using a hybrid approach that combines both proprietary and open source software products, companies can take advantage of the benefits of both types of software while minimizing the disadvantages.
Suggestion for Citation: Amerudin, S. (2023). The Pros and Cons of Proprietary GIS Software: An Overview. [Online] Available at: https://people.utm.my/shahabuddin/?p=6250 (Accessed: 3 April 2023).