What is Open Source Software

A model of software licensing whereby access to the source code is without limitations, including the right to modify it by users. The costs of its deployment are lower than for proprietary software and due to the culture of collaborative development, the level of customization and quality is usually high.

Software created as public good, i.e. available to all without restrictions.

Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.

Applications that possess a license allowing users to study, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form

Software with its source code available for users to inspect and modify to build different versions.

A single encompassing term for software that satisfies the following conditions: (1) non-time delimited, complete software whose source is publicly available for (re)distribution without cost to the user, (2) imposes minimal, non-restrictive licensing conditions, and (3) is itself either based on non-proprietary technologies or on proprietary technologies that conform to (1) and (2).

A single encompassing term for software that satisfies the following conditions: (1) non-time delimited, complete software whose source is publicly available for (re)distribution without cost to the user, (2) imposes minimal, non-restrictive licensing conditions, and (3) is itself either based on non-proprietary technologies or on proprietary technologies that conform to (1) and (2).

A software that is distributed with source code that anyone can read, modify, and compile into a new open source software.

The software based on the concept of the open source code where source code is non-proprietary and freely licensed.

Software that complies with the criteria set forth by the OSI which can be found at http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php

Computer software for which the human-readable source code is available under a copyright license, or arrangement. This permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form. It is developed in a collaborative manner.

According to the Open Source Initiative, licenses must meet ten conditions in order to be considered open source licenses: 1) The software can be freely given away or sold; 2) The source code must either be included or freely obtainable; 3) Redistribution of modifications must be allowed; 4) Licenses may require that modifications be redistributed only as patches; 5) No discrimination against persons or groups; 6) No discrimination against fields of endeavor; 7) The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties; 8) The program cannot be licensed only as part of a larger distribution; 9) The license cannot insist that any other software it is distributed with must also be open source; 10) License must be technology-neutral. The official definition of Open Source Software is very close to the definition of Free Software; however, it allows in practice more restrictive licenses, creating a category of “semi-free” software.

According to the Open Source Initiative, licenses must meet ten conditions in order to be considered open source licenses: 1. The software can be freely given away or sold. 2. The source code must either be included or freely obtainable. 3. Redistribution of modifications must be allowed. 4. Licenses may require that modifications be redistributed only as patches. 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups. 6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor. 7. The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license by those parties. 8. The program cannot be licensed only as part of a larger distribution. 9. The license cannot insist that any other software it is distributed with must also be open source. 10. License Must Be Technology-Neutral The official definition of Open Source Software is very close to the definition of Free Software, however, it allows in practice more restrictive licenses, creating a category of “semi-free” software.

A single encompassing term for software that satisfies the following conditions: (1) non-time-delimited, complete software whose source is publicly available for (re)distribution without cost to the user, (2) imposes minimal, non-restrictive licensing conditions, and (3) is itself either based on non-proprietary technologies or based on proprietary technologies that conform to (1) and (2).

Software for which the source code is freely available.

Software made available as source code under a license which permits users to study source code, modify, and possibly redistribute binaries and source code

Computer software for which the human-readable source code is made available under a copyright license, or arrangement This permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form. It is often developed in a public, collaborative manner.

Open source software is software in which the source code is available to others for modification or enhancement.

A computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to others.

Software delivered with its source code so that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance it.

Non-proprietary software that can be used with very few constraints or restrictions.

Software that allows the original source code to be free available which may be freely redistributed or modified (Perens, 2009 AU53: The in-text citation "Perens, 2009" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).

Software that allows the original source code to be free available which may be freely redistributed or modified ( Perens, 1999 ).

Generically, open source refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge. Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community. For a more technical definition visit the Web site of the Open Source Initiative (2007 AU12: The in-text citation "Open Source Initiative (2007" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).

Like in free software, open source software should comply to the four freedoms. But, while free software emphasizes freedom, Open Source is an approach that more emphasis on software quality.

Software that allows the original source code to be free available which may be freely redistributed or modified (Perens, 2009 AU33: The in-text citation "Perens, 2009" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).

It is the software with its source code openly available for anyone to use and modify.

Software that allows the original source code to be free available which may be freely redistributed or modified (Perens, 2009 AU184: The in-text citation "Perens, 2009" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. ).

Software that provides source code and possibly modifications. Its use may have various restrictions, which are dependant on the license. Software can be developed by an individual author or a collaborative community.