What is open source?

In January 1998, Netscape announced they would make the source code for their web browser, Navigator, freely available. Shortly after, the term open source was born, and the group realized this was an opportunity to educate and advocate for the superiority of an open development process.

O'Reilly Media defines it this way: "Open source usually refers to software that is released with source code under a license that ensures that derivative works will also be available as source code, protects certain rights of the original authors, and prohibits restrictions on how the software can be used or who can use it."

The Open Source Initiative states that "open source doesn't just mean access to the source code" and maintains that open source software must adhere to the criteria laid out in their website.

Other terms include: free software, libre software, open source software (OSS), free open source software (FOSS), free/libre open source software (F/LOSS).

Licensing is a key component of open source software; see how it works here. And, read articles on our site about which open source software license is best for your project and why you should have a license for your work.

Misconceptions about open source are explained here and include the following:

  • Free means there is no monetary cost
  • Open source is free development
  • Open source means poor quality
  • Open source has no support
  • Open source is bad for business
  • Open source does not generate business revenue

What is open source beyond software?

Open source has evolved beyond referring to just software development. It can describe a way of doing things, a perspective, and a culture—in life, business, government, education, law, and health. All over the world, people are approaching problems with an open mind, using and modifying open source code, and applying open source principles to projects. In essence, this is what we at opensource.com call the open source way—open exchange, community, rapid prototyping, meritocracy, and the power of participation.

From Wikipedia: "In production and development, open source is a philosophy, or pragmatic methodology that promotes free redistribution and access to an end product's design and implementation detail."

From SourceForge: "The essence of the Open Source development model is the rapid creation of solutions within an open, collaborative environment."

From the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKF): The Open Knowledge Definition (OKD) was one of our very first projects: drafted in 2005, 1.0 in 2006... A selection of OKF blog posts from the past few years illustrates how the OKD plays a low-profile but essential role in setting the standard for 'open' in a variety of fields.

From a report on the future of open source from Fortune Management: "Open source ideas have tremendous potential beyond software. All you need to create a successful open source community are participants who both contribute to, as well as benefit from, shared content. Such networks of transparency, collaboration, and trust can be tremendously beneficial in other industries as well, from pharmaceuticals to manufactured goods."

To learn more about the basics of open source, read from our site:

Opensource.com

We encourage you to explore what open source means to you, discover what it means to others, and see how it is changing the world. At opensource.com, we strive to share with our readers the various ways open source software, programs, platforms, and philosophies are used. We also strive to offer insight into the benefits of the open source process.

If a person or group sets out to approach a problem or a project the open source way, their intention is that it will be viewed, used, modified, and improved upon by others. It's like a recipe. People can take the original, change it to fit their taste, and then re-share it with their peers.

Open source licensing and other resources

We offer additional resources including open source events, projects, applications, and organizations in our resource section.