Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Factor VS OpenSSL

Compare Factor VS OpenSSL and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Factor logo Factor

Factor programming language

OpenSSL logo OpenSSL

OpenSSL is a free and open source software cryptography library that implements both the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols, which are primarily used to provide secure communications between web browsers and …
  • Factor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-04
  • OpenSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14

Factor features and specs

  • Concatenative Syntax
    Factor uses a stack-based, concatenative syntax which promotes a unique way of thinking about program structure, allowing for concise and modular code.
  • Interactive Development
    Factor supports interactive development with a powerful REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop), making it easier to test and debug code in real-time.
  • Cross-Platform
    The language is designed to be cross-platform, running on major operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing versatility for developers.
  • Extensive Standard Library
    Factor comes with a comprehensive standard library that covers various domains, reducing the need to rely on external libraries for common tasks.
  • Rich Development Environment
    It includes a modern, integrated development environment (IDE) that provides features like syntax highlighting, debugging tools, and project management facilities.

Possible disadvantages of Factor

  • Limited Adoption
    Factor has a smaller community compared to more mainstream languages, resulting in less online resources, tutorials, and community support.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The concatenative programming paradigm can be challenging to learn, especially for those accustomed to more traditional, imperative programming languages.
  • Performance Considerations
    While Factor is designed to be efficient, it may not perform as well as highly optimized languages like C++ in computationally intensive scenarios.
  • Niche Use Cases
    Factor is best suited for enthusiasts and specific problem domains, which can limit its applicability in mainstream industry projects.
  • Dependency on Stack Manipulation
    Because Factor is stack-based, managing the stack effectively can be complex and error-prone for developers new to this style of programming.

OpenSSL features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenSSL is open-source software, which means it is freely available and can be reviewed, modified, and improved by anyone.
  • Widely Used
    OpenSSL is one of the most widely used libraries for SSL and TLS protocols, ensuring high compatibility and support across different platforms and applications.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    OpenSSL provides extensive documentation and resources that can help users understand and implement its features effectively.
  • Regular Updates
    The OpenSSL project is actively maintained, receiving regular updates and patches to address security vulnerabilities and improve functionality.
  • Community Support
    A large community of developers and users contribute to forums, mailing lists, and other discussion platforms, providing support and sharing knowledge.
  • Flexible and Powerful
    OpenSSL offers a wide range of cryptographic functions and protocols, making it a versatile tool for various security requirements.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSSL

  • Complexity
    OpenSSL can be complex to configure and use, particularly for beginners or those without a deep understanding of cryptographic principles.
  • Security Vulnerabilities
    Despite regular updates, OpenSSL has had several high-profile security vulnerabilities in the past, such as Heartbleed, which can have broad implications.
  • Performance Overhead
    Depending on the implementation and configuration, using OpenSSL can introduce performance overhead, impacting the speed and efficiency of applications.
  • Limited User-Friendly Tools
    While OpenSSL is powerful, it lacks user-friendly tools and interfaces, making it harder for less technical users to operate.
  • Documentation Quality
    Though comprehensive, some users find the OpenSSL documentation to be dense and difficult to navigate, which can make troubleshooting and implementation challenging.

Analysis of OpenSSL

Overall verdict

  • Yes, OpenSSL is generally considered a reliable and secure option for secure communications. However, like any software, it requires proper configuration and regular updates to maintain its security posture.

Why this product is good

  • OpenSSL is an open-source cryptographic library widely used for implementing secure communications over networks using the SSL and TLS protocols. It is considered good because of its extensive feature set, constant updates, and widespread adoption across different platforms. The project benefits from a large community of contributors who regularly update and patch the software, ensuring it stays secure and robust.

Recommended for

  • Web servers requiring SSL/TLS support for secure HTTP (HTTPS) connections
  • Developers needing cryptographic functions for applications
  • Embedded systems requiring small footprint security solutions
  • Network applications that require secure data transmission

Factor videos

Factor_ Review | HONEST Pros & Cons of this low carb meal delivery service

More videos:

  • Review - Factor_ | A Real Review from a Real Customer | 2021
  • Review - Factor 75 Review: How Good Are These Healthy Pre-Made Meals?

OpenSSL videos

Das Kommando "enc" in OpenSSL

More videos:

  • Review - OpenSSL and FIPS... They Are Back Together!
  • Review - OpenSSL After Heartbleed by Rich Salz & Tim Hudson, OpenSSL

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Factor and OpenSSL)
ERP
100 100%
0% 0
Development Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Forestry And Lumber Industry Vertical
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Factor and OpenSSL. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Factor seems to be a lot more popular than OpenSSL. While we know about 40 links to Factor, we've tracked only 2 mentions of OpenSSL. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Factor mentions (40)

  • My history with Forth and stack machines (2010)
    Adjacent rather than a Forth, but take a look at Factor. https://factorcode.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • The FORTH code for Chipwits is released in the game's 40th anniversary
    Factor addresses some of these concerns and instead of giving you a bare metal REPL you get a Smalltalk-like image: https://factorcode.org/ It's rather neat. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • As you learn Forth, it learns from you (1981)
    Forth has integers and that's about it. You can have words that interpret the integers and e.g. Show you characters instead, but it's usually just a thin cover over the numbers. The JVM is stack-based and static typing rather common in the languages that runs on it. Factor has dynamic typing, though I haven't thought much about that, it kind of stays in the background. It's more a tool for problem solving than a... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • My history with Forth, and stack machines
    My impression so far is (in general), Forth are practically limited to doing embedded/microcontroller development. For us, web/mobile/desktop app devs, beside: - 8th (https://8th-dev.com) - Factor (https://factorcode.org) Any suggestion which implementation we should look for? - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Pharo 11, the pure object-oriented language and environment is released!
    Factor is also very much worth a look. Forth-style syntax, but with many of the ideas from CL and Smalltalk as well. In fact as a CL fan, I was very impressed by it. It's also quite "batteries included" a la Python. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

OpenSSL mentions (2)

  • Why does Baserow need my personal data so I can run open source?
    Baserow uses open source like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSSL and can use it without handing over data to openssl.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Creating private key help
    Noob here; I'm looking at openssl.org Two commands are listed; "openssl-genrsa" and "openssl genrsa" (No hyphen). Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Factor and OpenSSL, you can also consider the following products

LIMS - LIMS is a business management software for the timber and wood products industries with features of a log or timber accounting system.

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Tree Plotter - Cloud-based tree inventory management for urban forestry

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

Timbersmart - Australia's leading software solutions for the timber industry.

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.