What is IoT open source?
An IoT open source device is a piece of technology that is designed to connect to the internet, and the source code for the device’s firmware or software is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute.
Some examples of IoT platform open source include the Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and ESP8266/ESP32 boards. These products and platforms are often used for home automation, IoT sensing, and other similar IoT applications in different markets.
Benefits of using IoT open source devices
There are several pros or benefits of using IoT open source devices, let’s see what they are:
Cost-effective: Open source IoT devices are usually less expensive than standard devices, since there are no licensing fees or costs associated with using the software or firmware.
Collaborative development: The open source IoT platform allows communities for collaborative development, where users can share their modifications and improvements with others. Thanks to this, there can be faster development and a wider range of features and capabilities.
Customizable: Among the most interesting features of an open source IoT platform, is the possibility to access the source code of the device to modify it as pleased. This allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in the design and use of the device. See some examples of products we have developed at DeepSea Developments that are open-source devices: TermoDeep and DeepDeck; find out more about our presentation at Crowd Supply Teardown event.
Interoperability: Open source hardware can be integrated with other open-source devices and software (maybe through a new dashboard), making the IoT platform open source easier to connect and communicate with other devices and services.
Transparency: With an open source device, users can see how the device actually works and ensure that it is secure and respects their privacy (since people have access to the source code).
Scalability: IoT open-source devices can be scaled with ease, as the code is accessible, making it easy to add new features, functionalities, and widgets.
Cons of open source IoT devices:
Open source projects sound wonderful, since they open up the possibilities for many changes or new functionalities, however, there are some cons that must be considered.
Quality control: The most important part for a company when it releases a new product is to ensure the quality and stability of its devices. IoT open source devices may have a lower level of quality control compared to standard devices, since there is no central authority responsible for ensuring that the device meets certain standards or specifications. Also, the use it can receive may be completely different to what it was “aimed for” in the beginning.
Limited support: Open-source products may have limited support compared to standard devices. Why? Because the development and maintenance of the device is typically done by a community of volunteers rather than a dedicated team (engineering team from the company that originally created the device).
Limited documentation: IoT open source devices may have limited documentation, especially when compared to commercial devices. This can be an obstacle for users that want to understand how to maintain and use the product.
Security: Since everyone can have access to the source code, the IoT open source devices may be vulnerable to hackers that are able to identify vulnerabilities. On the other hand, new updates or patches may not be as frequent as standard IoT devices.
If you are interested in developing an IoT open source product, you can get in contact with us. Hire our IoT product development services.
