OPENSOURCE : explained

What is Open Source?

 

So if you are using linux or bsd or any unix based operating system (apart from macintosh) then you must have come across the word open source.Now what is opensource? 

The definition of opensource goes as     : software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified.

Opensource vs Freeware

Many people are unaware of the difference between opensource and freeware.Its true that both are free to use but freeware is only free to use you cannot modify it or redistribute it or see its source code.Thus you are very limited with these type of software.On the other hand opensource software is free to use free to modify and you can even redistribute it!

Confused right? think it in simple terms  let abc be a opensource software and xyz be freeware,

you are free to download and use both of them.

But you can modify(program and add new features!)  abc and you can see how it was made, its sourcecode (source code means the entire code of the software ) and you can redistribute it (sell it after modification or new feature addition)

On the other hand you can use xyz for free but the other features available for abc are not available for xyz.

For the non-techie person :  Steve Weber in his book 'The Success of Open Source'  uses a simple analogy with coca cola to explain the difference between opensource and proprietary software.He explains that when you purchase a can of coca cola you have the right to drink it and a vague list of ingredients is given on the side of the can.But the real recipe is not provided to you its a top secret and kept secret and only a few handful people have access to it.Same is the case with proprietary software, you can buy a genuine copy of Microsoft Windows Operating system but you dont have the right to see its source code.

Why opensource? 

Now what is the real user side or client side advantage of opensource software?

The advantage is you as a user can be sure that the software you are using is not only free but also free of malware 

 Some bad people (spammers and unethical hackers) spread malware hidden within freeware.So if you see a website providing you a costly software for free dont jump for it and grab it unless it has been reviewed and ensured to be malware/virus free  by a good number of users.

Where is all this stuff available?

Now after reading all these you might be thinking where all this stuff could be found?

Talking about the application or software : you can find the open source alternative of a proprietary software  by just a simple google search    like :  Open source alternative of  Windows 10...

Now for the programmers or developers who want to see the source code it is most of the time available on Github or any other version control system hosting service (to know more about github and VCS checkout this). If not then search the official website of the software.

And all the modifications can be done from there i.e github or etc.

 

 Is OpenSource  the Future of technology?

Open source technology has its own benefits: 

• The software is reviewed by thousands if not millions of developers.
• No chances of malware since its rare case that a hacker could upload any malware on a software being looked at by hundreds of users at the same time.
• Security flaws are easily identified and corrected soon
• The softwares quality becomes better  

hence after seeing all its benefits it is clear enough that opensource software is not going away soon in fact many companies are making their softwares and applications opensource.

How do opensource software making companies earn?

Now this is a question that might come in the mind of many users that how do these project owners earn? you have probably heard that when you don't pay for a product you are the product .

So that's not the case all the time.Opensource projects earns from donations and contribution of  satisfied users, so if you are pleased with the quality of any open source program then do bother to donate a few pennies to the creator.Many Open source projects also have paid plans with some extra premium features over its free plan.

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Opensource Licenses

Now all opensource softwares are not the same. They are published under particular licenses as chosen by the creator. I am listing some of them here:

• MIT license
• BSD licenses 
• GNU general public licenses (GPLv1,GPLv2,..)
• Mozilla Public License

                                                 etc

you can read more about them here https://opensource.org/licenses

so this was all about open source if you liked this post then share it and help more people to explore the world of open source.

have a nice day.