Here at NETponents, we believe that open source is where some of the greatest and most innovative software is created. By allowing community contribution, we can develop software that would far surpass what can be done with a small team. We also believe open source is our way of giving back to the community.
Short answer: If you intend to use the product for commercial uses or you need advanced features like hardware acceleration, get the licensed edition. Otherwise choose the open source option.
Long answer: If you are a student, hobbyist, or startup company, you can choose the open source option if you would like. We believe that learning and entrepenuership shouldn't be prohibited by expensive software and hidden fees. The free versions of our software (when available) are community supported, while the licensed versions recieve direct B2B or B2C support along with advanced features such as hardware acceleration. Below is a chart outlining what each package contains.
| Tier | Free | Licensed |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | VL or custom pricing |
| Support | Community | Direct B2B or B2C |
| Features | Standard RTM features | Advanced features and optimizations (depends on product) |
| Updates | Security/major updates | Scheduled, fast-track updates |
| Solution packages | None | Customized and personalized solutions available on request |
| Deployment options | Standard .zip/.exe/.tar.gz download | Multiple options available as part of solution package |
Open source programs are built on a community of knowledge, making far better programs than possible by a single company. It also gives entrepeneurs and students powerful software to get started with without paying a penny. Open source isn't the future, it's what creates the applications of the future.
Take a look at our company page on GitHub: http://github.com/NETponents. Note that we do not immediately grant access to our repositories. Start by cloning one of our repositories and making the changes on your own GitHub account. Make sure that your submission follows with the style and naming conventions of the rest of the code. When you are done, submit a pull request to open a thread with the project owners. They will review your code and get back to you within a few days.
If your pull request is accepted, your changes will be integrated into the main code branch. If you are active in uploading code commits, you will eventually be promoted into the inner rings of our community development team. As more people contribute, the standard for being promoted will be raised.
Depending on which product you contribute to and what kind of feature you have added, your code may or may not be used in the licensed editions of the product. Although we cannot pay every contributor, we do offer compensation for top contributors in each of the community development rings.
Copyright 2015