Refers to software that is distributed with its source code so that end user organizations and vendors can modify it for their own purposes. Most open source licenses allow the software to be redistributed without restriction under the same terms of the license. For the complete, official definition of open source, visit www.opensource.org/docs/osd. For a list of approved open source licenses, visit www.opensource.org/licenses.
There are thousands of open source programs, and although they are used on most platforms, they are particularly common in the Unix world. Major examples are the Linux operating system, Apache Web server and JBoss application server. See Linux, Apache and JBoss.
Free and Paid
A great amount of open source software is available at no charge, and many open source projects are developed by a community of volunteers. However, there are commercial vendors that enhance open source software and charge a fee, the most notable example being a distribution of Linux (see Linux distribution).
Free and Open Source
In the late 1990s, open source software was derived from "free software," meaning free of restrictions and why the phrase "free and open source software" is often used. Whereas the "free software" movement promotes the user's freedom as an ethical issue, the philosophy of open source focuses on the practical benefits when users cooperate with each other. Nearly all open source software is free software, but there are occasional exceptions because the definition of free software is more strict (see free software).
Peer Review
Open source proponents claim that because the source code is continuously reviewed by new programmers, it eventually produces a more bug-free product. In addition, the wide variety of contributors provides enhancements and refinements that would take much longer with proprietary software or never be added.
Vendors of proprietary software counter by saying that "too many cooks spoil the broth!" They maintain that having complete control over software ultimately results in better products. Clearly there is good and bad software from both camps, but there is empirical evidence that open source has advantages. "Software Industry vs. Software Society: Who Wins in 2020?" is a provocative article about the subject by Michael Tiemann, president of the Open Source Initiative (www.computerlanguage.com/2020.pdf).
Useful Software May Last Longer
A distinct advantage of open source is that as long as there is even one remaining, devoted contributor, the software will continue to be enhanced. In the world of proprietary, commercial software, a useful program that users may truly love is often abandoned if it does not generate sufficient profit compared to other products. For more information, visit www.opensource.org and www.sourceforge.net. See free software, Shared Source and open source hardware.
There are thousands of open source programs, and although they are used on most platforms, they are particularly common in the Unix world. Major examples are the Linux operating system, Apache Web server and JBoss application server. See Linux, Apache and JBoss.
Free and Paid
A great amount of open source software is available at no charge, and many open source projects are developed by a community of volunteers. However, there are commercial vendors that enhance open source software and charge a fee, the most notable example being a distribution of Linux (see Linux distribution).
Free and Open Source
In the late 1990s, open source software was derived from "free software," meaning free of restrictions and why the phrase "free and open source software" is often used. Whereas the "free software" movement promotes the user's freedom as an ethical issue, the philosophy of open source focuses on the practical benefits when users cooperate with each other. Nearly all open source software is free software, but there are occasional exceptions because the definition of free software is more strict (see free software).
Peer Review
Open source proponents claim that because the source code is continuously reviewed by new programmers, it eventually produces a more bug-free product. In addition, the wide variety of contributors provides enhancements and refinements that would take much longer with proprietary software or never be added.
Vendors of proprietary software counter by saying that "too many cooks spoil the broth!" They maintain that having complete control over software ultimately results in better products. Clearly there is good and bad software from both camps, but there is empirical evidence that open source has advantages. "Software Industry vs. Software Society: Who Wins in 2020?" is a provocative article about the subject by Michael Tiemann, president of the Open Source Initiative (www.computerlanguage.com/2020.pdf).
Useful Software May Last Longer
A distinct advantage of open source is that as long as there is even one remaining, devoted contributor, the software will continue to be enhanced. In the world of proprietary, commercial software, a useful program that users may truly love is often abandoned if it does not generate sufficient profit compared to other products. For more information, visit www.opensource.org and www.sourceforge.net. See free software, Shared Source and open source hardware.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
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- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Google Chrome OS has arrived as free VMWare download
- Somebody will make it available in a more public area, I'm sure.Being that it's open source, somebody's going to make it available in a more public area, I'm sure. I'll wait until then.RE: Google Chrome OS has arrived as free VMWare downloadthat's not the real release... that's a linux based...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
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- Chrome OS will give Microsoft a run for their money
- SilverLight draws circles around Google's gimmickCompare SL's demo w/ that of ChromeOS and see it for yourself the truth: The former completely owns the latter.RE: Chrome OS will give Microsoft a run for their moneyWhat kool aid are you drinking? NOTHING is secure, and Google wants to take over everything....
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Google makes Chrome OS open source today
- I like itThe ChromeOS demo looked pretty cool!I'm almost 100% webapp-based already, so I could see myself using a simple, fast & no maintenance OS like that the majority of the time.I like it too, but, for me, I need to compile and run programs locally. I would imagine that...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Google makes Chrome OS open source today
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- Blog posts 2009-11-19
- Chrome OS: Some Early Preview Videos
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- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Live from Googleplex: Chrome OS details revealed
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- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- GIMP dropped from default Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx installation
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- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Terracotta buys Quartz
- Open source Java clustering software developer Terracotta announced its intent to buy an open source job scheduler known as Quartz. The integration of Quartz into Terracotta's platform will ease high availability job scheduling and scaling applications to multiple nodes, the company said. Quartz is currently integrated into...
- Blog posts 2009-11-19
- MindTouch launches its open source cloud
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- Blog posts 2009-11-19
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- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Mozilla locks out rogue Firefox add-ons
- Firefox has conquered IEIt is evident that Firefox free has conquered IE, plus the fact the majority of sites work regardless of browser.The days of this old bait & switch from MS are over.But I thought the whole point behind "open source"......was to allow ANYONE to put code in their...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
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