Open source

The previous open source article now exists at open-source software. This article needs help with content that is more about the environment of open source and its history.

Divisions of Open Source

Examples of Open source uses are:

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• products whose sources or design documents are open for use, modification and redistribution

The argued advantage of open source is that products are more understandable, modifiable, duplicatable, or simply accessible. Software developers publish their software product as open source so others may contribute to the development of the product, and understand how it works. Open source software typically provides others the ability to make a new version of the software, port it to other operating systems and processor architectures, share it with others or sell it.

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There are a number of licenses used for open source products. In software, the GNU General Public License is one of the best known, and is used by the Linux kernel. The Open Source Initiative maintains a list of approved open-source licenses, which it deems to follow the Open Source Definition. The list is similiar to GNU's list of Free Software Licenses.

Related Topics:
GNU General Public License - Linux kernel - Open Source Initiative - Open Source Definition - GNU - Free Software Licenses

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For other products, open content licenses are often more appropriate, such as the Creative Commons Licenses, or the GNU Free Documentation License, which is used by Wikipedia.

Related Topics:
Open content - Creative Commons License - GNU Free Documentation License - Wikipedia

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Open source software has also developed its own culture, movement, and ethics.

Related Topics:
Culture - Movement - Ethics

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Open source has also come to denote the radical transparency typical of open source software development. Open source governance and Open Source Committees take this meaning.

Related Topics:
Radical transparency - Open source governance - Open Source Committee

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