It seems like there are many free open source PHP scripts out there in the market. However, the installation and customization may be painful. Most important is the security and support provided.

Is this one of the issue of concern in Malaysia web design community?

What about commercial PHP scripts?? They have support, improvement of features, security updates, and believe can save much more time for web project challenges.

Any opinion?

Hello cdgan,

Welcome to Webmaster Malaysia Forum.

I really depend on what type of script you are looking for.

For myself, I'm a big fans of open source script, such as Drupal (CMS) and PunBB (Forum). Eventhough it's free, its support (thru forum) is still good, which the developers and other experienced user will reply to you within a day or two.

On the commercial script part, VBulletin as forum script has UNMATCHED features and support, considering the huge license fee you paid. Phpmydirectory is the same case too, providing the support, improvement and features that none other free, open source script able to match.

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It's not really the true about commercial script that get better support and security fix.

Look at our Mr.Gate$ company, Micro$oft and Linux. If you find a bug or security loophole, you need to wait on every month, the first Tuesday to get the fixes. Microsoft has make the date to issue fixed every month.

Linux on the other hand get fixed quicker due to large volume of community support.

The concept is the same as PHP commercial script or Open Source scipt.

This my 2 cents opinion.

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Danny Goh
GetHosted.com.my

For me, I still prefer easy to customize scripts. If possible, a free script.

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Danny made a good point here.

To add up to that, when choosing the open source script, be sure to choose those with great community support (better bug fixes). Else, if the script is written by few undedicated person, nobody will ever fix the bug/security loopholes.

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Also, an open source software doesn't mean it cannot be commercial. You can make money with open source. There are many companies that provide commercial ($$$) and professional support for open source software.

Another commercial aspect of open source software is the (relatively) new concept of bounties. An open source software user can request a new feature they want and attach an amount of $$$ they are willing to pay for it, and any developer who first implements it usefully will get the bounty.

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