Open source refers to a software development model where the source code of a computer program is made freely available to the public, allowing anyone to view, modify, and distribute the code. The open-source approach promotes collaboration, transparency, and community-driven development, enabling individuals and organizations to contribute to the improvement and evolution of software projects. ![[Pasted image 20241018183117.png]] Key characteristics of open source software include: 1. **Free Access:** Open source software is typically available free of charge, allowing users to download, install, and use the software without having to pay licensing fees or royalties. This lowers barriers to entry and promotes widespread adoption of the software. 2. **Source Code Availability:** The source code of open source software is openly accessible and can be viewed, modified, and redistributed by anyone. This transparency allows users to understand how the software works, identify and fix bugs or security vulnerabilities, and customize the software to suit their specific needs. 3. **Community Collaboration:** Open source projects often rely on collaboration and contributions from a diverse community of developers, users, and enthusiasts. Contributors can submit bug fixes, patches, new features, documentation, or translations to the project, fostering a culture of sharing and cooperation. 4. **Licensing:** Open source software is typically distributed under licenses approved by organizations such as the Open Source Initiative (OSI) or the Free Software Foundation (FSF). These licenses grant users certain freedoms to use, modify, and distribute the software while ensuring that derivative works remain open source and that the original authors receive credit for their contributions. 5. **Iterative Development:** Open source projects often follow an iterative and incremental development process, where new features and improvements are released regularly in response to user feedback and community contributions. This allows software projects to evolve rapidly, adapt to changing requirements, and stay relevant over time. 6. **Global Reach:** Open source software has a global reach and can be used, adapted, and localized for different languages, cultures, and regions. This diversity of contributors and users enriches the software ecosystem and fosters innovation and creativity. Examples of popular open source software projects include the Linux operating system, the Apache web server, the Mozilla Firefox web browser, the WordPress content management system, the LibreOffice office suite, the Python programming language, and the Git version control system, among many others. Overall, open source software plays a vital role in modern computing, empowering individuals, businesses, and communities to collaborate, innovate, and build upon shared resources for the benefit of society as a whole.