Open source Definition
The phrase open source refers to the and manipulation of the source of a product, design or even knowledge. Open source is most commonly associated with the collection of files that translates from a readable format to what the general public sees and uses on their end—a program’s source code. Since open source code can be manipulated by the general public without repercussion, the user can expand the capabilities of a program beyond what is initially marketed by the company.
The benefits to using open source software is that it’s free … nowadays, when you buy commercial software you have to upgrade, or when a new [operating system] comes out you have to replace all your hardware and software, which can get expensive. You can choose what you need and you can, depending on your abilities, modify the software to make it more efficient for your system. And if you have time, you can modify your code and give it back to the community.
One recent development in the world of open source is the free productivity suite OpenOffice.org. The software is designed to be similar to Microsoft Office, but its code is available to developers who are encouraged to develop their own applications within the framework. These additions are often posted for all to use and incorporated into the next release of the suite.
The Internet is arguably the best example of the value of open source. Users are able to freely gather information from sources they would not normally have access to without the connection the Internet provides. They can post information of their own, knowing that it will be shared with a broad audience. And most importantly to values of the open source culture, users are also able to interact with each other without limitations based on location or economic status.
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