Open-Source – Principles, Standard Requirements, Philosophy, Platform & Freedom
Open Source:
- The term open source means people can modify and share because it is publicly accessible.
- It allows anyone to view, modify, and distribute it.
History:
- The concept of open-source software emerged in the late 20th century.
- In 1985, Richard Stallman founded the free software movement.
- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a non-profit organization founded by Richard Stallman on October 4, 1985, to support free software.
- 1983 – Richard Stallman formed the GNU project.
- 1985 – Creation of Free Software Foundation.
- 1991 – Development of Linux kernel by Linus Torvalds.
- 1998 – Open-Source Initiative (OSI) formed by Eric Raymond.
Examples of Open Source:
- Operating System - Linux, FreeBSD
- Web server - Apache HTTP Server
- Programming languages - Python, PHP, Perl
- Content management systems - Joomla, WordPress
- Web browser - Mozilla Firefox
- Application - VLC media player
Types of Open-Source Licenses:
- GNU GPL
- MIT License
- Apache License
- BSD License
- Mozilla Public License
Principles of Open Source:
- Free Redistribution.
- Availability of Open-Source Source Code.
- Allow Derived Works.
- The integrity of The Author’s Source Code is maintained.
- No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups.
- Distribution of Licenses available.
- License Must Not be Specific to a Product.
- License Must Not Restrict Other Software.
- The license Must Be Technology-Neutral.
- Respect for Privacy.
- Interoperability.
- Global Accessibility.
- Community Participation.
- Compatibility with Open Standards.
- Transparent Community Governance.
Standard Requirements:
- Source Code is available to users to view, modify, and distribute it.
- Users must have the freedom to use the software without limitations.
- Users should be allowed to modify the source code to create derivative works.
- Users must have the right to distribute copies of the software to others.
- The license must not discriminate against any individual or group.
- Users should not pay fees for the distribution or use of the software.
- The license must not restrict the use of specific technologies.
- The license must remain the same for the software and its derivatives.
Open-Source Philosophy:
The open-source philosophy is a set of principles that support the open-source software movement.
- Collaboration: Open source encourages collaboration among developers, and users to share knowledge, ideas, and code.
- Transparency: Transparency builds trust leading to higher-quality software.
- Freedom: Open source has the freedom to use, study, modify, and distribute the software.
- Accessibility: Open source promotes accessibility by making software freely available to everyone.
- Community: Community is at the heart of the open-source philosophy. Community members collaborate, share knowledge, and provide support.
Open-Source Platform:
- Operating System - Linux, FreeBSD
- Web server - Apache HTTP Server
- Programming languages - Python, PHP, Perl
- Content management systems - Joomla, WordPress
- Web browser - Mozilla Firefox
- Application - VLC media player
Open-Source Freedom:
- Freedom to Use.
- Freedom to Study.
- Freedom to Modify.
- Freedom to Distribute.
- Freedom to Contribute.
- Freedom to Innovate.
- Freedom to Share.
- Freedom of Access.
- Freedom of Community support.
- Freedom of Transparency.
- Freedom of Learning.
- Freedom of Choice.
Advantages of Open Source:
- Lower Software Costs.
- Lower Hardware Costs.
- Simplified License Management.
- Support is freely available.
- Quality Software.
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