Open Source

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Open Source Logo

[edit] Open Source ideology

Open source is a development methodology, which offers practical accessibility to a product's source (goods and knowledge). Some consider open source as one of various possible design approaches, while others consider it a critical strategic element of their operations. Before open source became widely adopted, developers and producers used a variety of phrases to describe the concept; the term open source gained popularity with the rise of the Internet, which provided access to diverse production models, communication paths, and interactive communities.

The open source model of operation and decision making allows concurrent input of different agendas, approaches and priorities, and differs from the more closed, centralized models of development. The principles and practices are commonly applied to the development of source code for software that is made available for public collaboration, and it is usually released as open-source software.

The Open Source Definition is used by the Open Source Initiative WAP version to determine whether or not a software license can be considered open source. The definition was based on the Debian Free Software Guidelines, written and adapted primarily by Bruce Perens.

This type of software, has also come to be known as "Free software", "software libre" or "libre software", "FOSS", and "FLOSS" and although there are diferences among these terms, it is whidely acepted that all of them belong to the same trend.

[edit] The Open Source Software premises

1. Free redistribution: The software should be freely given away or sold.

2. Source code: the source code should be included or freely available.

3. Work derivatives: the redistribution of amendments should be allowed.

4. Integrity of the source of the author: licenses may require that modifications be redistributed only as patches.

5. Without discrimination of individuals or groups: no one can be left outside.

6. Without discrimination initiative areas: commercial users can not be excluded.

7. Distribution of license: the same rights should apply to everyone who receives the program.

8. The licence should not be a specific product: the program can not be licensed only as part of a larger distribution.

9. The license must not restrict other software: the license can not bind any other software that is distributed with open source software must also be open source.

10. The license must be technologically neutral: it must not required license acceptance via a mouse click access or otherwise specific means of supporting software.