Open Source

Definition

Open source is a decentralized software development framework that prioritizes collaboration and transparency. The source code to this software is open for the public to see and modify. Copyright protection to open source projects might be liberal, as with Creative Commons licenses, or there may be no copyright protection.

What does it mean to be an open source?

Something is open source if the source code is available to the public.

What are the most famous examples of open source software?

The Linux operating system is a famous example of open source software. Other famous open source projects include languages like Ruby, Python, and Haskell. The Firefox web browser is another example.

Other popular open source examples can be found in the Github version control repository. Considering the term broadly, Wikipedia is an example of open source-style web content.

Does open source mean it’s free?

As Richard Stallman famously put it, free software is free as in “free speech, not free beer.” There’s a fine distinction between “freeware” and open software, which is that the latter is a developmental framework.

What are the differences between open source and closed source?

Ultimately the difference is whether the source code is available for the public to inspect and contribute to, as with open source; or if the code is proprietary and closed.

Related Terms

Back-End Development

Refers to server-side elements of web development or software development, in contrast with the user-facing elements of front-end development. Think of everything that you see inside a web browser as the stage.

CRUD

The acronym stands for Create, Read, Update, and Delete—representing the four main operations performed on data. CRUD is a foundational concept in computer programming, databases, and application design. The process is applicable to relational database management system (RDBMSs) or NoSQL.

API (Application Programming Interface)

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a mechanism for making data or capabilities from within an application available to other applications or services.APIs are published by developers who build applications, and consumed by others who want to use that data or service.

Reusable Components

Includes data, connectors, templates, and other resources stored in digital libraries that an organization can leverage across multiple applications. Reusable components, which are a key offering of low-code platforms, result in consistency when developing digital solutions.