Define Open Source
The term open source refers to software whose underlying source code is
either delivered together with the software or can easily be obtained, for
instance, via the internet. Anybody may use, modify, redistribute or sell
open-source software. The idea behind an open source is that the process of
having any people read, modify, test and debug it should also improve the
source. The mere availability of source code is not enough to qualify as open
source, however. For example, Microsoft’s shared source prohibits commercial
use of modified code. The Open Source Initiative (OSI) maintains a formal
definition of open source (Box A, Item II). oprietary licenses, by contrast,
often put restrictions on the use and distribution of software. They generally
also deny users access to the source code, and users are frequently required to
register and pay for the software.
Some open-source licenses require that modified versions of the software
must be licensed in a special way to prevent it from being used as proprietary,
closed-source software.
A prime example is the GNU General Public License (GPL), which
stipulates that works derived from it must also be licensed as open source
under the GPL license (Box A, Item III). Because the GPL transfers to derived
works, software development companies have complained that the use of GPL
software could transform their products into freeware that can be copied by
competitors. The definition of free software is slightly more restrictive than
the definition of open source, but the differences are minor. The main
difference lies in the political and philosophical approach of the Free
Software Foundation (FSF) versus the pragmatic approach of the OSI, which
promotes open source for its technical qualities. “Free” refers to freedom of
use, not cost. The FSF maintains the definition of free software. In recent
years, there has been greater understanding of GPL in the commercial world, and
the legal interpretation has grown clearer. As a consequence, GPL software is
now found in numerous commercial products.
The processes used in open source development projects differ from those
used in traditional commercial software organizations. In fact, some people claim
that these processes are superior to traditional development processes.
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