Rev 22 at 23:02, 26 June 2006

2006-06-26T23:02:30Z

Rev 22: merged from "open source"

2006-06-26T23:00:49Z

Rev 22 at 22:54, 26 June 2006

2006-06-26T22:54:54Z

New page

See also: [[Source code]] | [[Licenses]] | [[Open Source Initiative]] | [[Free Software]]

[[Aka]]: '''O'''pen '''S'''ource '''S'''oftware.

==== Introduction ====

[[Software]] that has its [[source code]] [[Free|freely]] available to view and [[modify]]. Different [[licenses]], like the [[GPL]], exist to allow varying levels of modification, be it for personal or commercial use. The open source [[community]] can update products continually, so [[users]] don't have to wait as long for new [[feature]]s. Some advocate the use of open source software so that business may reduce [[law|legal]] risk from [[piracy]] and [[copyright]] infringement. Open source software has a [[grassroots]] [[DIY]] appeal, since it is easy to get [[Open-Source/Getting Involved|involved]]

Open-source software is at the heart of the [[Linux]] and [[BSD]] worlds, allowing developers to freely trade and modify each other's work but it is also increasingly used by traditionally [[closed-source]] companies such as [[Microsoft]] and [[Apple]], although restricted by different [[license|licenses]].

"Open source" and "[[Free Software]]" definitions emphasize different rationals and the terms must be used with care. Open source is defined officially by the [http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php Open Source Definition]. There is also an open source [[wiki]] called [http://ospedia.osdir.com/ Open Source Pedia].

==== Popular Examples of Open Source Software ====

* [[EMule]] - [[file sharing]] [[client]]
* [[GNU]]/[[Linux]] - the rapidly developing [[Windows]] and [[proprietary]] [[UNIX]] alternative
* [[Mozilla]] - a [[cross-platform]] [[web browser]] with a steadily increasing speed and feature [[list]]
* [[Open Office]] - a free suite of common [[office]] applications
* [[Apache]] - the most [[popular]] [[Web]] [[server]] in the world
* [[Perl]] - secure and fast [[cross-platform]] Web server [[programming language]]
* [[PHP]] - a popular [[database]]-interpreter language
* [[Mono]] - [[.NET]] framework

There are thousands and thousands of open-source [[program|programs]] available for [[free]] [[online]], for use by individuals on their own [[hardware]] and [[operating system]]. Open-source products are often available for no cost to the [[user]]. Benefiting all individuals, and posing a threat to businesses that base their revenue [[models]] on controlling their users, open-source is claimed by some, particularly [[Microsoft]] surrogates, as a [[communism|communist]] cancer attacking [[intellectual property]].

Linux, like other open source projects, is not directly [[law|regulated]] like a business. Open-source is redifining the market place for software. It proves there is an alternative to corporate [[capitalism]].

"Open Source" is a marketing name for Free Software, coined in Feb 1998 as an attempt to overcome the confusion over the word "free" in the English language. Open source refers to the [[fact]] that the source code of Free Software is open to and for the world to take, to modify and to reuse. The precise meaning of Free Software - an important distinction - is spelled out in the [http://www.debian.org/intro/free Debian Free Software Guidelines] or the [http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html GNU Free Software Definition].

==== Open-Source Hosts ====

* [[SourceForge]] - Freely hosts a great number of open-source projects
* [http://savannah.gnu.org Savannah]
* [http://developer.berlios.de BerliOS Developer]
* [http://www.tigris.org tigris.org]
* [http://auriga.wearlab.de/ auriga.wearlab.de]
* [http://gnuwin.org Gnuwin.org] Precompiled, ported open-source apps for [[Windows]]
* [http://gna.org GNA!] - savannah clone
* [http://mozdev.org MozDev] - mozilla based applications and bugzilla infrastructure

There is a section just for [[Archives]] which also includes open-source projects.

==== Related Links ====

* [http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117802,00.asp Open Source Software Goes to Work] (pcworld)
* [http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue8_1/nichols/index.html The Usability of Open Source Software] - by David M. Nichols and Michael B. Twidale
* [http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue8_1/schweik/index.html The Institutional Design of Open Source Programming: Implications for Addressing Complex Public Policy and Management Problems] - by Charles M. Schweik and Andrei Semenov
* [http://www.linuxfund.org/ LinuxFund.org] - ([http://www.linuxfund.org/node.php?id=37 FAQ]) - LinuxFund grants scholarships to university students who show promise as Open Source developers as well as issues development grants for projects which may not be suitable for commercial or volunteer efforts but which will enhance the long-term vitality of the Open Source.
* [http://www.asiaosc.org/enwiki/ AsianOSC] - A [[wiki]] which promotes open source and free software in Asia.
* [http://www.oekonux.org Oekonux] [[email]] list that is exploring the wider application of open source principles into society.
* [http://csharp-source.net CSharp-Source.Net] - Directory of open source software written in C#
* [http://www.jwz.org/ Jamie Zawinski]'s [http://www.jwz.org/gruntle/nomo.html sobering look] at how the open-source [[Mozilla]] project tripped and fell back in 1998, in his opinion. The project has improved significantly since then and continues to make gains but other ambitious open-source projects could learn a lot from his words on the subject.
* [http://www.osafoundation.org The Open Source Applications Foundation] -- and they have a [http://wiki.wxpython.org/ Wiki]
* [http://www.theopencd.org/ TheOpenCD] - A collection of high quality open-source software on [[compact disc]].
* [http://java-source.net Java-Source.Net] - Directory of Java Open Source Software
* [http://www.manageability.org/blog/opensource/view Manageability.org] - A Collection of Collections of interesting Open Source projects written in Java
* [http://management.itmanagersjournal.com/article.pl?sid=04/05/10/2052216 Seven open source business strategies for competitive advantage] - Open source ain't anti-commercial.

==== Bad links ====

* [[Openwares.Org]] - A apparent [[scam]] that takes open source software and bundles it with software that shows advertisments. Don't download from here. The front page claims they do not do spyware but instead add open source [http://nsis.sourceforge.net/ NSIS uninstall software]. Users are advised in all cases to just download OSS software from their respective sites, not from a 3rd party such as openwares or other Web sites.

: [http://methlabs.org/howtotell http://methlabs.org/howtotell/boycott/boycottmedium.jpg]

==== Related Topics ====

* [[Collaboration]]
* [[Enforcement]]
* [[FLOSS]]
* [[Open Source Initiative]]
* [[Patent]]
* [[Security through openness]]

{{infoanarchy|Open-source}}

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	{{infoanarchy\|Open-source}}		{{infoanarchy\|Open-source}}
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-See also: [[Source code]] | [[Licenses]] | [[Open Source Initiative]] | [[Free Software]]
+See also: [[source code]] | [[licenses]] | [[Open Source Initiative]] | [[free software]]
 [[Aka]]: '''O'''pen '''S'''ource '''S'''oftware.
-==== Introduction ====
+'''Open source''' commonly refers to [[software]] in which the [[source code]] is available and can be copied, edited, or changed by anyone.  The advantage to this type of software is that anyone using the sofware can discover a [[bug (software)|bug]] and fix it.  In theory, if the program is used by enough people that have programming skills, all the bugs will eventually be found and fixed.  In practice, open source programs don't always work in this way, and many times most of the bugs end up being fixed by the software developers.
-[[Software]] that has its [[source code]] [[Free|freely]] available to view and [[modify]].  Different [[licenses]], like the [[GPL]], exist to allow varying levels of modification, be it for personal or commercial use. The open source [[community]] can update products continually, so [[users]] don't have to wait as long for new [[feature]]s. Some advocate the use of open source software so that business may reduce [[law|legal]] risk from [[piracy]] and [[copyright]] infringement. Open source software has a [[grassroots]] [[DIY]] appeal, since it is easy to get [[Open-Source/Getting Involved|involved]]
+Different [[licenses]], like the [[GPL]], exist to allow varying levels of modification, be it for personal or commercial use. The open source [[community]] can update products continually, so [[users]] don't have to wait as long for new [[feature]]s. Some advocate the use of open source software so that business may reduce [[law|legal]] risk from [[piracy]] and [[copyright]] infringement. Open source software has a [[grassroots]] [[DIY]] appeal, since it is easy to get [[Open-Source/Getting Involved|involved]]
 Open-source software is at the heart of the [[Linux]] and [[BSD]] worlds, allowing developers to freely trade and modify each other's work but it is also increasingly used by traditionally [[closed-source]] companies such as [[Microsoft]] and [[Apple]], although restricted by different [[license|licenses]].

open-source - Revision history

Rev 22 at 23:02, 26 June 2006

Rev 22: merged from "open source"

Rev 22 at 22:54, 26 June 2006