Open Source

Open Source Initiative

Open source is a work methodology that adheres to the Open Source Definition. Typically, it refers to any computer software whose source code is either in the public domain or copyrighted yet distributed under an open-source license such as the GNU General Public License (GPL). Licenses like GPL mandate the distribution of the source code alongside the software, allowing free modification with few restrictions. Such constraints may include preserving the authors' names and copyright statements in the code, a principle referred to as copyleft. Other licenses, like Apache or FreeBSD, impose minimal conditions on the use of their modified versions. When describing software, the term "open source" is hyphenated, for example, "Apache is open-source software."

These are rights designated for the software users. Notably, an open-source license doesn't inherently demand that the software, or its source, be initially available for free on the Internet, though most renowned open-source software is.

In everyday parlance, "open source" might also describe any software with a publicly accessible source code, regardless of its licensing. However, such usage often meets with disapproval from the open source community. For instance, software like certain versions of Solaris and PGP that exhibit "disclosed source" characteristics may be mistaken as open source. Moreover, there are "shared source" licenses which superficially resemble open source but have crucial divergences.

Contents

1. "Open source" and "Free software"
2. The open source movement
3. The Open Source Debate
4. Open Source advocates
5. Projects and Organizations
6. Examples of Open Source Licenses
7. Examples of Open Source Software

"Open source" and "Free software"

Main article: Free software

Open source and free software are often interchangeably used terms, but there are subtle distinctions in their philosophy and practice.

The open source movement

This movement emphasizes the collaborative nature of open source and its impact on software innovation and quality.

The Open Source Debate

This section will delve into the ongoing debate about the pros and cons of open source as a development methodology.

Open Source advocates

Notable figures and contributors who champion the open source cause and its principles.

Projects and Organizations

A look into various influential projects and organizations propelling the open source movement forward.

Examples of Open Source Licenses

• GNU GPL
• Apache
• MIT
• And many others...

Examples of Open Source Software

• Linux
• Python
• MySQL
• Among others...

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