Tools: Open Source Software

What is Open Source?

The term Open Source originally referred to computer software development, but today it refers not only to software but a set of values about products and their creation and use by others. According to opensource.com:

Open source projects, products, or initiatives are those that embrace and celebrate open exchange, collaborative participation, rapid prototyping, transparency, meritocracy, and community development.

What is Open Source Software?

Open source software is software that is available for anyone to change.

"Source code" is the part of software you can't see; it's the code that makes a web page display, a document to open, or a video to play. Programmers who can get to the source code can change the way your web page displays, can add new ways you can change a document, and can make your video play correctly in a new video tool.

What is an example of Open Source Software?

Durham Tech is using Sakai, an open source learning management system. Instead of just a few people working on the LMS, programmers, designers, developers, testers, and users all over the world improve the software and contribute updates to the entire Sakai community.

Here is a list of over 50 open source resources you can use, instead of expensive products: 50 Open Source Resources

What's the difference between open source software and other software available?

Companies like Microsoft and Adobe don't allow anyone to see or change their product code, such as for products like Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop. The code for these products are owned by the companies, and are often referred to as "proprietary software". When you use their products, you usually have to agree that you won't do anything with the product unless permitted by the owners.

Open source software is different. The authors/owners make the code available for anyone to view, copy, download, change and share. Popular examples are LibreOffice (originally OpenOffice)

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 software licenses promote collaboration and sharing because they allow others to make modifications to source code and incorporate that code into their own projects. Some open source licenses ensure that anyone who alters and then shares a program with others must also share that program's source code without charging a licensing fee for it. In other words, computer programmers can access, view, and modify open source software whenever they like—as long as they let others do the same when they share their work. In fact, they could be violating the terms of some open source licenses if they don’t do this.

So as the Open Source Initiative explains, "open source doesn't just mean access to the source code." It means that anyone should be able to modify the source code to suit his or her needs, and cannot prevent others from doing the same. The Initiative's definition of "open source" contains several other important provisions. LibreOffice] (originally OpenOffice) 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 software licenses promote collaboration and sharing because they allow others to make modifications to source code and incorporate that code into their own projects. Some open source licenses ensure that anyone who alters and then shares a program with others must also share that program's source code without charging a licensing fee for it. In other words, computer programmers can access, view, and modify open source software whenever they like—as long as they let others do the same when they share their work. In fact, they could be violating the terms of some open source licenses if they don’t do this.

So as the Open Source Initiative explains, "open source doesn't just mean access to the source code." It means that anyone should be able to modify the source code to suit his or her needs, and cannot prevent others from doing the same. The Initiative's definition of "open source" contains several other important provisions.