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https://opensource.com/resources/what-open-source
Submission: On March 19 via manual (March 19th 2023, 11:19:16 pm UTC) from EG — Scanned from DE

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WHAT IS OPEN SOURCE?

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The term open source refers to something people can modify and share because its
design is publicly accessible.

The term originated in the context of software development to designate a
specific approach to creating computer programs. Today, however, "open source"
designates a broader set of values—what we call "the open source way." Open
source projects, products, or initiatives embrace and celebrate principles of
open exchange, collaborative participation, rapid prototyping, transparency,
meritocracy, and community-oriented development.

WHAT IS OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE?

Open source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect,
modify, and enhance.

"Source code" is the part of software that most computer users don't ever see;
it's the code computer programmers can manipulate to change how a piece of
software—a "program" or "application"—works. Programmers who have access to a
computer program's source code can improve that program by adding features to it
or fixing parts that don't always work correctly.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE AND OTHER TYPES OF SOFTWARE?

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Some software has source code that only the person, team, or organization who
created it—and maintains exclusive control over it—can modify. People call this
kind of software "proprietary" or "closed source" software.

Only the original authors of proprietary software can legally copy, inspect, and
alter that software. And in order to use proprietary software, computer users
must agree (usually by signing a license displayed the first time they run this
software) that they will not do anything with the software that the software's
authors have not expressly permitted. Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop are
examples of proprietary software.

Open source software is different. Its authors make its source code available to
others who would like to view that code, copy it, learn from it, alter it, or
share it. LibreOffice and the GNU Image Manipulation Program are examples of
open source software.

As they do with proprietary software, users must accept the terms of a license
when they use open source software—but the legal terms of open source licenses
differ dramatically from those of proprietary licenses.

Open source licenses affect the way people can use, study, modify, and
distribute software. In general, open source licenses grant computer users
permission to use open source software for any purpose they wish. Some open
source licenses—what some people call "copyleft" licenses—stipulate that anyone
who releases a modified open source program must also release the source code
for that program alongside it. Moreover, some open source licenses stipulate
that anyone who alters and shares a program with others must also share that
program's source code without charging a licensing fee for it.

By design, open source software licenses promote collaboration and sharing
because they permit other people to make modifications to source code and
incorporate those changes into their own projects. They encourage computer
programmers to access, view, and modify open source software whenever they like,
as long as they let others do the same when they share their work.

IS OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE ONLY IMPORTANT TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS?

No. Open source technology and open source thinking both benefit programmers and
non-programmers.

Because early inventors built much of the Internet itself on open source
technologies—like the Linux operating system and the Apache Web server
application—anyone using the Internet today benefits from open source software.

Every time computer users view web pages, check email, chat with friends, stream
music online, or play multiplayer video games, their computers, mobile phones,
or gaming consoles connect to a global network of computers using open source
software to route and transmit their data to the "local" devices they have in
front of them. The computers that do all this important work are typically
located in faraway places that users don't actually see or can't physically
access—which is why some people call these computers "remote computers."

More and more, people rely on remote computers when performing tasks they might
otherwise perform on their local devices. For example, they may use online word
processing, email management, and image editing software that they don't install
and run on their personal computers. Instead, they simply access these programs
on remote computers by using a Web browser or mobile phone application. When
they do this, they're engaged in "remote computing."

Some people call remote computing "cloud computing," because it involves
activities (like storing files, sharing photos, or watching videos) that
incorporate not only local devices but also a global network of remote computers
that form an "atmosphere" around them.

Cloud computing is an increasingly important aspect of everyday life with
Internet-connected devices. Some cloud computing applications, like Google Apps,
are proprietary. Others, like ownCloud and Nextcloud, are open source.

Cloud computing applications run "on top" of additional software that helps them
operate smoothly and efficiently, so people will often say that software running
"underneath" cloud computing applications acts as a "platform" for those
applications. Cloud computing platforms can be open source or closed source.
OpenStack is an example of an open source cloud computing platform.

WHY DO PEOPLE PREFER USING OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE?

People prefer open source software to proprietary software for a number of
reasons, including:

Control. Many people prefer open source software because they have more control
over that kind of software. They can examine the code to make sure it's not
doing anything they don't want it to do, and they can change parts of it they
don't like. Users who aren't programmers also benefit from open source software,
because they can use this software for any purpose they wish—not merely the way
someone else thinks they should.

Training. Other people like open source software because it helps them become
better programmers. Because open source code is publicly accessible, students
can easily study it as they learn to make better software. Students can also
share their work with others, inviting comment and critique, as they develop
their skills. When people discover mistakes in programs' source code, they can
share those mistakes with others to help them avoid making those same mistakes
themselves.

Security. Some people prefer open source software because they consider it more
secure and stable than proprietary software. Because anyone can view and modify
open source software, someone might spot and correct errors or omissions that a
program's original authors might have missed. And because so many programmers
can work on a piece of open source software without asking for permission from
original authors, they can fix, update, and upgrade open source software more
quickly than they can proprietary software.

Stability. Many users prefer open source software to proprietary software for
important, long-term projects. Because programmers publicly distribute the
source code for open source software, users relying on that software for
critical tasks can be sure their tools won't disappear or fall into disrepair if
their original creators stop working on them. Additionally, open source software
tends to both incorporate and operate according to open standards.

Community. Open source software often inspires a community of users and
developers to form around it. That's not unique to open source; many popular
applications are the subject of meetups and user groups. But in the case of open
source, the community isn't just a fanbase that buys in (emotionally or
financially) to an elite user group; it's the people who produce, test, use,
promote, and ultimately affect the software they love.

DOESN'T "OPEN SOURCE" JUST MEAN SOMETHING IS FREE OF CHARGE?

No. This is a common misconception about what "open source" implies, and the
concept's implications are not only economic.

Open source software programmers can charge money for the open source software
they create or to which they contribute. But in some cases, because an open
source license might require them to release their source code when they sell
software to others, some programmers find that charging users money for software
services and support (rather than for the software itself) is more lucrative.
This way, their software remains free of charge, and they make money helping
others install, use, and troubleshoot it.

While some open source software may be free of charge, skill in programming and
troubleshooting open source software can be quite valuable. Many employers
specifically seek to hire programmers with experience working on open source
software.

WHAT IS OPEN SOURCE "BEYOND SOFTWARE"?

At Opensource.com, we like to say that we're interested in the ways open source
values and principles apply to the world beyond software. We like to think of
open source as not only a way to develop and license computer software, but also
an attitude.

Approaching all aspects of life "the open source way" means expressing a
willingness to share, collaborating with others in ways that are transparent (so
that others can watch and join too), embracing failure as a means of improving,
and expecting—even encouraging—everyone else to do the same.

It also means committing to playing an active role in improving the world, which
is possible only when everyone has access to the way that world is designed.

The world is full of "source code"—blueprints, recipes, rules—that guide and
shape the way we think and act in it. We believe this underlying code (whatever
its form) should be open, accessible, and shared—so many people can have a hand
in altering it for the better.

Here, we tell stories about the impact of open source values on all areas of
life—science, education, government, manufacturing, health, law, and
organizational dynamics. We're a community committed to telling others how the
open source way is the best way, because a love of open source is just like
anything else: it's better when it's shared.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT OPEN SOURCE?

We've compiled several resources designed to help you learn more about open
source. We recommend you read our open source FAQs, how-to guides, and tutorials
to get started.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
International License.
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