Open Source refers to software that has been developed and released with the source code open and available to everyone for download and redistribution. This allows any expert developer to be a part of the development team and contribute to the development, testing and bug fixing, ensuring software is not only developed and improved at a very fast pace, but thoroughly tested. This fantasic revolution in the software industry has resulted in a dramatic increase in software choice for consumers and has advanced software development beyond the restrictions of commercial software.
Open Source software is released under license. The licenses do restrict what distributors and developers can do with it, although this is only for the good of open source and ensures software remains open and development is supported.
More Information…