Definition of Open Source

Open source refers to the availability of a program that includes an openly available source code and to the principles and standards that allow the general public to have free access to the original design of the program. Open source code has developed from the collaborative efforts of programmers to improve code and share it with the community. The idea behind this initiative is to produce a better product for everyone’s use without charging exorbitant fees.

Open source software refers to software that contains an underlying programming code that is freely available to numerous users. The users can read the programming code, modify it, and build completely new versions of the software by incorporating their modifications into it. Numerous open source software exists. Each one operates under a specified licensing term that identifies the ability of the user to create variations of the source code that can be distributed to others.

External links:

• Wikipedia explanation of open source
• The Open Source Initiative
• Open source repository