What is open source?
- Open source is a decentralized production model that allows anyone to modify and share technology because its design is publicly accessible.
- The term originated in the context of software development to indicate that the software complies with certain free distribution criteria.
- Today, the term opensource way designates a broader value set that is based on the principles of free information exchange, rapid prototyping, and collaborative development.
- Anyone can contribute new ideas and improve the technology further so that it evolves organically.
Why is open source important?
- The idea of open source emerged from the technology community. Technical innovations need global collaboration to evolve.
- For example, say a programming team in the US develops new open-source technology for a financial application.
- Another programming team in Australia modifies the technology with new functionality better suited for the health sector.
- A third team in Asia then develops new open-source products that use the original technology as a core component.
- Such knowledge sharing and collective innovation benefit the entire community.Locking technology behind patents, copyrights, and expensive licenses limits progress.
- Many popular open-source projects have led to rapid technology advancement worldwide in the last few decades.
What are the principles of open source?
The core principles behind any open-source project are as follows:
Community
An open-source community is a group of people who come together to achieve a common purpose. Their shared values and goals guide decision making and drive the open-source project forward.
Transparency
Open-source projects ensure that everyone in the community has access to the information and materials necessary for doing their best work. With awareness of the bigger picture, team members make more effective decisions and build on each other's ideas and discoveries.
Open collaboration
Community projects encourage teamwork, so a group solves problems that individuals alone cannot. For example, members in any open-source initiative contribute changes to improve what someone else has built. You can also establish rules so others can modify the solution as needed in the future.
Rapid prototyping
An open-source project follows an iterative approach, in which team members create and share prototypes at frequent intervals. Rapid prototyping encourages a culture of experimentation. You can improve and carry forward changes that work and discard those that don't.
Inclusive meritocracy
The open-source movement encourages diverse perspectives and conversations. The community makes decisions by consensus but also prioritizes success. The best ideas get more support and effort from the open-source community.
What are the features of open-source software?
Features of any open-source software closely align with the values of the open-source movement.
Open source
Open-source software must be released under an open-source license that meets certain distribution criteria, such as the following:
- No restrictions on selling or giving away the software as a component of aggregate software distribution
- Must include and allow distribution of the source code
- Must allow modifications and derived works
- Rights attached to the program must apply to all without discrimination
Open design
- Open design guarantees a transparent and open process for designing and planning software. It's about letting the community drive the software’s design and feature roadmap.
- This can be challenging because getting community consensus can be a time-consuming process. However, community-agreed design leads to a better product that more effectively meets users’ needs.
Open development
- Open development is the adoption of inclusive and transparent development processes that allow everyone to participate as equals. Publicly accessible services bring visibility to development activities.
- For example, open-source projects typically adopt a set of standards that clearly state the metrics that a contribution will be evaluated against.
- This allows all software updates to be given equal consideration, whether that update is from a first-time contributor or a senior developer.
Open community
- Open community ensures that the software development community is an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and anyone can rise to leadership positions.
- It balances the needs of both developers and users by establishing common goals and building strong connections.
Open-source software
- Open-source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.
- Source code is the part of software that computer programmers manipulate to change how an application functions or to add new features.
- Anyone with access to a software's source code can improve or customize the application by adding features to it or troubleshooting existing errors.
- Open-source software appears in most web applications and devices you use today.
- Some examples of open-source software are Linux, an open-source operating system, and Mozilla Firefox, an open-source internet browser.
