Open Source Software

Open Source Software

Introduction

In open source software, the source code of programs is available for viewing, study and modify and also enables the user to take part in the finalization of the most open programs, using the code to create new programs and fixing errors in them through source code (Stallman, 2007). If it allows compatibility of the license, or used by the study of algorithms, data structures, technologies, methods and interfaces because the source code can greatly complement the documentation, and in the absence of such documentation. The term open source was created with the definition in 1998 by Eric Raymond and Bruce Perens, who argued that the term free software in the English language is ambiguous and confusing for many commercial businesses (Thomas and Kristian, 1999).

Discussion

The vast majority of open source software is free. The difference between the movements of the open source and free software is mainly in the priorities. Proponents of the term open source focus on the efficiency of open source as a method of development, modernization and maintenance programs. According to Richard Stallman, open Source will hurt free software, because some of the developers and users of open source software are not against proprietary software, and people will stop using at the Open Source.

As an open source software include all the programs that are under recognized by the Open Source Initiative license. These programs meet the following conditions such as the source code is freely available, the software may be copied, distributed and used, the software can be modified and distributed in modified form.

Advantages

The main advantage of open source software is of course that such programs can be downloaded for free in the rule. Other advantages are that users of open source software is not dependent on a specific manufacturer (Thomas and Kristian, 1999). It is all-use, wishing to extend or fix a bug-free, to make this change or someone to hire them. The use of open source software is also at no or subject only to a few conditions. The software may be used by any number of users have access for any purpose (Stallman, 2007). When you reproduce it, there are no license costs.

Cons of open source software can be a less intuitive and partly necessary knowledge of computer science.

Other aspects

The expression of open source is also used to refer to entities that are contrary to the definition of OSI, but could lead to confusion. For example, U.S. intelligence agencies are using it in the sense of open source, which is mentioned in the ad online Raymond (Rossi, 2006). The term Open Source is not free and examples are UnRAR, unpacking RAR -archives. There are also programs, who have an open source code ambiguous. There is also a class of programs called proprietary software with open source or open core, who use the term Open Source when applied to proprietary software. Currently, the Open is one of the most discussed topics in the computer world, especially with the ...