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.
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.
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