Open Source or Open Source refers to the source code of software that is openly accessible and that can be changed and distributed by anyone. The open source proposal stipulates ten requirements for open source software licenses.
The beginning
The source code of a software is made public: anyone can read it, develop the software itself and copy it. The software can be used or distributed by anyone for free. No additional license is required at any time. Open source software is thus a alternative to commercial paid software.
Examples
Some examples of well-known open source software are LibreOffice and OpenOffice for creating documents, the GIMP image processing program, and Audacity, with which you can edit audio data. The Eclipse development environment and the Ubuntu operating system are also open source software. Other open source programs are OpenOffice and Bootstrap.
Benefits
A great utility for users (individuals or companies) is that there are no license fees to pay. You are also not dependent on a supplier. There are many other benefits to developer pages. Because the code is read by many independent developers, any abuse of the software would be immediately apparent. Any piece of software that contains malicious code will be discovered quickly, so open source software it's very safe.
Even small bugs in software can be fixed very quickly, since many independent programmers can point out bugs to each other and discuss problems together. At the same time, users can tailor a program to their needs. Basically you could extend the code and expand the software with your own function.
Disadvantages
Users cannot rely on the fact that open source software will develop (quickly), since projects have few financial resources. Support is another big drawback. Developers work on projects on a voluntary basis and thus only in their spare time.
In this way, there is no developer company that offers permanent support and people who can provide support rarely have the time to do so. One solution is forums on the Internet and companies that do not develop the software, but specialize in its support. They earn their money with professional support for free software.
Quality
Not all open source software will be of the same quality. There are big differences and there is not an open source option available in all areas. Despite everything, many programs are already able to keep up with the competition and have integrated into the job market. The Open Usability project strives to make open source software easier to use and thereby increase your quality.
Open Source vs. Free software
"" Open source "and" free software "are essentially the same. The term "free software" is older (1985) and comes from the Free Software Foundation. The Open Source Initiative launched the term "open source" in 1998. The idea of open source software is the same, only the motivation behind it is different. In open source, it is the practical benefit derived from joint software development. The concept of free software is based on the ideology that sustains it and the benefit for users.
