Unlike Open Source Libraries that rarely come with default settings or ones that meet generic web needs, handling for the default settings is typically a de facto standard for commercial solutions. This saves valuable time for your devops team, enables them to focus on more high value challenges, and helps you get your application up and running faster.
1 Built-in handling of default settings for the various libraries
2 Elimination of work, costs and technical debt related to maintaining libraries
Commercial-grade solutions remove the need for your development team to monitor and address bug and security fixes that Open Source solutions require. They also reduce the need to maintain libraries to accommodate a steady stream of new features as they are released – or to build up significant levels of technical debt when – since Open Source solutions are constantly evolving as different users and developers collaborate from all over the world. The more work that is required, the greater the costs for staff time and focus.
3 Improved security from continuously updated components
A single vulnerability puts an entire application at risk. These vulnerabilities occur regularly and often unknowingly when using outdated Open Source components or homegrown image processing solutions built around the Open Source libraries. In addition, while Open Source solutions often have large communities working to identify and fix security gaps, the simple fact that malicious users can view the same code base renders these solutions inherently more vulnerable to cyber attacks whether related to buffer overruns, image submissions with undiagnosed viruses, or a variety of other issues.
4 Ensuring cross-library version compatibility
Not every Open Source library works with every version of other libraries. Proprietary commercial solutions eliminates the need to invest valuable time and resources to ensure your libraries are compatible since the proprietary libraries are managed centrally and deployed only after ensuring such compatibility prior to being released into production.
5 Automated handling for errors and failovers
Whereas Open Source solutions require you to manage error handling and to establish failover processes, good proprietary solutions remove this headache by handling recoverable errors to ensure your image and media files are outputted to ensure optimal application performance and a consistently reliable user experience.
6 Multiple retry and alternate library failover functionality
Whereas Some image and media files will inevitably work on some libraries, but not others. Open Source solutions typically don’t have good ways to address this whereas an enterprise-grade solution will provide “smart” functionality – not just to automate handling for errors and failovers, but also to attempt re-processing multiple times and even invoking alternative libraries should a default library fail.
7 Greater scalability without the skyrocketing costs
Homegrown or do-it-yourself (DIY) processing via the cloud almost never provides enough resources to handle all image or media files, especially for high scale platforms. In addition, while it is affordable to get started with basic media processing in the cloud, cloud costs can rise exponentially, which is why it is not uncommon for many companies to build workarounds that are time-consuming to build and maintain. Superior commercial solutions will maintain their own machines to improve scalability, while lowering costs – both for their own business as well as their customers.
8 OpenSource still costs money to operate
Infrastructure costs still apply even for do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions. The machines that run your OpenSource are still an expense you need to calculate when determining the best solution for your platform.
1 Significantly lower costs – often greater than 50%
Many bulk image and media processing services charge by the gigabyte. Their unoptimized cost structure translates into higher prices for customers. A superior solution provider will have lower cost structures to lessen costs to customers, effectively sharing the savings. Some suppliers even offer cost calculators to aid users in evaluating their own potential savings available by switching.
2 Fewer size limits per job
Processing popular image files is generally just “table stakes” for a licensed image and media processing solution provider to be in business; However, not all solutions are created equal when it comes to processing non-standard files, especially larger file types such as popular design files (e.g. PSD, AI, etc.), video, audio or office document files. Switching providers can enable you to eliminate any current job size limits thus enabling your application to process jobs without unforeseen interruptions or delays.
3 Fewer limits on jobs per second
Similar to issues with file size limits, jobs per second limitations also frequently occur with many of the popular licensed image and media processing solutions available today. Limits on jobs per seconds translates into longer file processing queues, slower processing times, and often also sub-optimal user experiences for web-based platforms. Transitioning to a solution with fewer job per second limitations helps to keep your application current for your clients – especially if you operate a platform with any significant size or scale.
4 Support for multiple media formats beyond just images and videos
Many services are primarily geared towards one or two file formats only – for example, image and video formats only. This forces buyers to either license additional solutions or to build internal applications around these services. A more flexible and scalable approach is to source a vendor that accommodates many file types such as Adobe PDF, Office 365, audio, zip, raw camera files and others.
5 Automatic management of color profiles
Not all outsourced software services are alike. Many have zero to limited capabilities to apply the optimal color profiles based upon automatic analysis of the images or files being processed. A superior licensed solution will look at your images and media and perform this function when processing your jobs.
6 Free bandwidth for moving images and other media files in/out of the system
Costs for most third-party image processing services usually rise quickly. This is because the industry standard is to charge by the gigabyte for file hosting and/or the bandwidth when moving files in or out of their system. A better, lower cost approach is to seek offer free bandwidth for this type of processing
7 Support and feature additions at no extra cost
Many paid solutions offer the features and functionality your business needs when you first launch your application or platform. But what happens when your needs or the needs of your clients evolve? If your existing solution provider is not able or ready to accommodate new requests or charges exorbitant amounts to do so, then this might also be a clear indicator that you could benefit by switching your business to a solution and supplier that is customer-focused and flexible enough to meet your needs both today and tomorrow.