Glossary
Open Source Software
A method of software development and licensing. Generally speaking, open source software (OSS) requires the distribution of the code, in a readable form, with the application. Access to the code allows people to make changes to the software, add features, or build other applications that will work with it. They can distribute these changes as long as the source code stays open.
OSS is usually developed by a community of people who are associated, not by company or geography, but by interest in the project. Often, changes, upgrades, and even the main application itself, are made by people who are volunteering their time. They are often working for the result - the ability to use a tool that does what they need it to do - rather than for financial gain.
Examples of OSS include Linux (an operating system which is compiled into various distributions - known as distros - such as Red Hat, Suse, Mandrake etc) Apache (web server), Mozilla Firefox (web browser), Thunderbird (email client) and OpenOffice.org (office suite). Compare with Proprietary software.
Related glossary terms
Apache, Browser, CLI, Linux, Open Source Software, Operating System, Proprietary software, Software
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