Difference between revisions of "Free and open-source software"
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'''Free and open-source software''' ('''FOSS''') is computer [[software]] that can be classified as a union of two software development models: free software and [[open-source software]]. First, anyone is licensed to freely use, copy, study, and change the software in any way. Second, the source code is openly shared so that people are encouraged to voluntarily improve the design of the software.<ref name="GNUFreeDef">{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |title=What is free software? |work=GNU.org |publisher=Free Software Foundation, Inc |date=01 January 2016 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref> In contrast, [[proprietary software]] is under restrictive copyright, and the source code is usually hidden from users. | '''Free and open-source software''' ('''FOSS''') is computer [[software]] that can be classified as a union of two software development models: free software and [[open-source software]]. First, anyone is licensed to freely use, copy, study, and change the software in any way. Second, the source code is openly shared so that people are encouraged to voluntarily improve the design of the software.<ref name="GNUFreeDef">{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |title=What is free software? |work=GNU.org |publisher=Free Software Foundation, Inc |date=01 January 2016 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref> In contrast, [[proprietary software]] is under restrictive copyright, and the source code is usually hidden from users. | ||
Despite similarities in their development models, both "free software" and "open-source software" feature differing cultures and philosophies.<ref name="FellerPersp05">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C0Z30r8qdpcC |title=Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software |author=Feller, Joseph; Fitzgerald, Brian; Hissam, Scott A.; Lakhani, Karim R. |year=2005 |publisher=MIT Press |location=Cambridge, MA |pages=538 |isbn=9780262062466 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref> | Despite similarities in their development models, both "free software" and "open-source software" feature differing cultures and philosophies.<ref name="FellerPersp05">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C0Z30r8qdpcC |title=Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software |author=Feller, Joseph; Fitzgerald, Brian; Hissam, Scott A.; Lakhani, Karim R. |year=2005 |publisher=MIT Press |location=Cambridge, MA |pages=538 |isbn=9780262062466 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref> "Free" refers to the users' freedom to copy and re-use the software. The Free Software Foundation, an organization that advocates the free software model, suggests that to understand the concept, one should "think of 'free' as in 'free speech,' not as in 'free beer'".<ref name="GNUFreeDef" /> while focusing on the fundamental freedoms it gives to users. The "open-source" component, however, focuses on the perceived strengths of its peer-to-peer development model.<ref name="FellerPersp05" /> Despite these differences, the term "FOSS" can generally be used without particular bias towards either political approach. | ||
The benefits of using FOSS potentially include decreasing software costs, increasing security and stability (especially in regard to malware), protecting privacy, and giving users more control over their software development.<ref name="ClaburnStudy07">{{cite news |url=http://www.informationweek.com/study-finds-open-source-benefits-business-/d/d-id/1050799? |title=Study Finds Open Source Benefits Business |author=Claburn, Thomas |work=InformationWeek |publisher=CMP Media, LLC |date=17 January 2007 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="WheelerWhy15">{{cite web |url=http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html |title=Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers! |author=Wheeler, David A. |work=DWheeler.com |date=18 July 2015 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref> | The benefits of using FOSS potentially include decreasing software costs, increasing security and stability (especially in regard to malware), protecting privacy, and giving users more control over their software development.<ref name="ClaburnStudy07">{{cite news |url=http://www.informationweek.com/study-finds-open-source-benefits-business-/d/d-id/1050799? |title=Study Finds Open Source Benefits Business |author=Claburn, Thomas |work=InformationWeek |publisher=CMP Media, LLC |date=17 January 2007 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="WheelerWhy15">{{cite web |url=http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html |title=Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers! |author=Wheeler, David A. |work=DWheeler.com |date=18 July 2015 |accessdate=13 January 2016}}</ref> | ||
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Free and open-source software (FOSS) is computer software that can be classified as a union of two software development models: free software and open-source software. First, anyone is licensed to freely use, copy, study, and change the software in any way. Second, the source code is openly shared so that people are encouraged to voluntarily improve the design of the software.[1] In contrast, proprietary software is under restrictive copyright, and the source code is usually hidden from users.
Despite similarities in their development models, both "free software" and "open-source software" feature differing cultures and philosophies.[2] "Free" refers to the users' freedom to copy and re-use the software. The Free Software Foundation, an organization that advocates the free software model, suggests that to understand the concept, one should "think of 'free' as in 'free speech,' not as in 'free beer'".[1] while focusing on the fundamental freedoms it gives to users. The "open-source" component, however, focuses on the perceived strengths of its peer-to-peer development model.[2] Despite these differences, the term "FOSS" can generally be used without particular bias towards either political approach.
The benefits of using FOSS potentially include decreasing software costs, increasing security and stability (especially in regard to malware), protecting privacy, and giving users more control over their software development.[3][4]
See also
Further reading
- Barr, Joe (1998). "Why "Free Software" is better than "Open Source"". Free Software Foundation. Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5TchyyzYm. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- Salus, Peter H. (28 March 2005). "A History of Free and Open Source". Groklaw. http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20050327184603969. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
- Vetter, G. (2009). "Commercial Free and Open Source Software: Knowledge Production, Hybrid Appropriability, and Patents". Fordham Law Review 77 (5): 2087-2141. http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol77/iss5/4.
- Wheeler, David A. (8 May 2014). "Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers!". DWheeler.com. http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
External links
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Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: FLOSS Concept Booklet |
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Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: FOSS A General Introduction |
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Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: FOSS Open Standards |
- FLOSSworld: Free/Libre/Open Source Software: Worldwide impact study
- FreeOpenSourceSoftware.org: FOSS wiki
- IFOSSF.org: International Free and Open Source Solutions Foundation
Notes
This article reuses some content from the Wikipedia article.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "What is free software?". GNU.org. Free Software Foundation, Inc. 1 January 2016. https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Feller, Joseph; Fitzgerald, Brian; Hissam, Scott A.; Lakhani, Karim R. (2005). Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. pp. 538. ISBN 9780262062466. https://books.google.com/books?id=C0Z30r8qdpcC. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ↑ Claburn, Thomas (17 January 2007). "Study Finds Open Source Benefits Business". InformationWeek (CMP Media, LLC). http://www.informationweek.com/study-finds-open-source-benefits-business-/d/d-id/1050799?. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ↑ Wheeler, David A. (18 July 2015). "Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers!". DWheeler.com. http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
