Open-source software: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:38, 16 August 2025

Latest revision as of 14:03, 22 August 2025

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}

{{Broader|open-source-software movement}}

[[File:ExampleDebian on13 openwith sourseFOSS 20210604software open.png|thumb|350x350px|A [[screenshot]] of [[ManjaroDebian|ManjaroDebian Linux]] running the [[Cinnamon (desktop environment)|Cinnamon desktop environment]], [[Firefox]] accessing [[Wikipedia]] which uses [[MediaWiki]], [[LibreOffice Writer]], [[Vim (text editor)|Vim]], [[GNOME Calculator]], [[VLC media player|VLC]] and [[Nemo (file manager)|Nemo]] file manager, all of which are open-source software]]

'''Open-source software''' ('''OSS''') is [[Software|computer software]] that is released under a [[Open-source license|license]] in which the [[copyright]] holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and [[Software distribution|distribute the software]] and its [[source code]] to anyone and for any purpose.<ref>{{cite book |author=St. Laurent, Andrew M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=04jG7TTLujoC&pg=PT18 |title=Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing |publisher=O'Reilly Media |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-596-55395-1 |page=4 |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422145617/https://books.google.com/books?id=04jG7TTLujoC&pg=PT18 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Corbly|first=James Edward|date=2014-09-25|title=The Free Software Alternative: Freeware, Open Source Software, and Libraries|url=http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ital/article/view/5105|journal=Information Technology and Libraries|volume=33|issue=3|pages=65|doi=10.6017/ital.v33i3.5105|issn=2163-5226|access-date=28 April 2021|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501023728/https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/ital/article/view/5105|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}</ref> Open-source software may be developed in a collaborative, public manner. Open-source software is a prominent example of [[open collaboration]], meaning any capable user is able to [[online collaboration|participate online]] in development, making the number of possible contributors indefinite. The ability to examine the code facilitates public trust in the software.<ref name="Open Collaboration">{{Cite journal|last1=Levine|first1=Sheen S.|last2=Prietula|first2=Michael J.|date=2013-12-30|title=Open Collaboration for Innovation: Principles and Performance|journal=Organization Science|volume=25|issue=5|pages=1414–1433|doi=10.1287/orsc.2013.0872|issn=1047-7039|arxiv=1406.7541|s2cid=6583883}}</ref>