Software is increasingly a top expense for architecture and design firms. With many software applications and file formats becoming de facto industry standards, firms are increasingly tied to commercial software publishers. Many in the software industry have moved from selling software as a one-time purchase—which would remain usable after it was fully paid for—to a recurring monthly subscription model—in which the tool loses functionality if the user stops paying. As a result, companies across industries have seen their monthly software expenses grow. One way that architecture and design firms can alleviate this financial burden and still have access to the software and technology necessary to run their businesses is to explore open-source alternatives, whose numbers have increased in recent years.
Open-source software is released under a specific license that gives users the right to download, use, or change the software and its source code. Unlike commercial software, which typically has a protected source code and proprietary file formats, open-source software projects are not profit-driven and encourage users to modify and share their code with the wider community. Often the goal of these projects is to develop applications that can accommodate multiple viewpoints and ways of working. Some well-known open-source projects include the Linux operating system, the WordPress web publishing platform, and the audio-editing application Audacity.
The promise of free, open-source software may sound great, and, importantly, many open-source applications are suitable for the design workflow, particularly as architects take on more digital tasks. This article lists seven options to consider, ranging from 3D modeling tools to energy analysis applications.
Using open-source applications does have drawbacks, often taking additional skill to use compared to commercial tools that have more robust user interfaces. Training may also be an issue, as open-source projects often lack the budget or incentive to create well-documented tutorials and resources. However, for the enterprising architecture and design firm, the free access to such tools makes the learning curve a worthwhile endeavor.
