Open-source software is a type of software that can be used by everyone for free without any obligation to the developer.
The source of this software is also distributed with the software and may be changed or modified by anyone.
Modifications could include enhancement of the software application or changing it to suit someone else’s needs. This also means that the source code can be distributed freely by anyone.
How It Works
The source code of the software is released with a license from the developers to allow anyone to study and change it. Thus, any developer can make a change in this software and further distribute it to everyone else free of charge, as well.
This also means that only the source code is given away for free, but the executable software itself is not always available for free. Anyone with the right skills can take open-source source code and create a completely new piece of software from it.
That piece of software can then be redistributed either under the same license or a new license, depending on the original license agreement.
Features
You do not need as much hardware to run the core of the open-source software as opposed to commercial software. You can also use older hardware and get the same results, and it is sometimes more portable to be used across-platform.
Because of the availability of the source code, many skilled people can contribute to quite a high-quality piece of software. Anyone can improve on the original software with the freely available source code at their disposal to make a better application.
There are also no high license fees involved with open-source software or a lack of compatibility with other software. You can also install the software on as much hardware as you can without the worry of a multi-user license fee.
With open-source software, you also have the option to customize it to adapt to a different organization’s unique ways of operating.
Open-source software also has plenty of free support available for the administrator of any system the software can be used on. This type of open-source software mostly has online communities and forums available where you can easily get free support and advice.
Many high-end technologies are available in open-source software that can be used to integrate and combine different systems, like servers and workstation management.
Who It Is Suited To
This type of software can be used by anyone who lacks the money to invest in very expensive systems. It is also ideal for use with organizations that need software that can be customized to suit their unique needs.
Cost
Open-source means the source code is free for everyone who is interested to use the software under the license conditions. Sometimes, the software and the source code can be used for free, but you need to pay for a manual.
Such is the case of the very popular open-source operating system, Red Hat Linux, as you have to pay for the instruction manual.
Pros
- Many people may contribute to the growth
- Gives students skill development time
- Can be customized to certain needs
- New software can sprout from it
Cons
- May take a long time to reach full potential
- Not always the safest software to use
How To Download
If you are interested in using open-source software for a certain purpose, there are many places where you can get it. Normally, you can just Google what you are looking for, and many links will take you to many sites.
Go to the SourceForge website to see what types of software and services are available for the user and developer. Ubuntu is one of the many great open-source operating systems that are available to use for free on your home PC.
There is also a lot of other free software that is available from Ubuntu to make your Linux life much easier.
Summary
To see for yourself what is available for individuals or organizations, do some online research. You might be quite surprised at what you can find that will help you become a better developer.
Go find it, and you might just develop a new popular app for devices.
Also read: Discover How to Make Money with Open Source Projects
