Open-Source Software (OSS) is computer software with its source code freely available and in the public domain. This form of software is developed and maintained by a collective of software developers, often professionals and enthusiasts. Open-Source Software encourages collaboration and sharing of knowledge amongst its users, with the aim of creating software that is free, of high quality and better-suited to the needs of its users.
Open-source software can come in many forms; from operating systems, such as Linux; to applications and libraries – such as Mozilla Firefox and the Python programming language respectively. Through having access to the source code, users can alter the software as they wish and enable it to better meet their needs. It is also possible for them to contribute new features and functionality to the existing source, and incorporate changes that better utilise the computer hardware on which it is running.
Open-source software works on the principle of transparency. An open source product is developed in the public domain, with the code openly available for anyone to analyse and improve. This means that all users can contribute to the codebase, and that any issues or bugs can be addressed quickly. Furthermore, open source software typically ships with a wide range of community support options, such as an active discussion board, to better assist users when something isn’t working how they expect it to.
Open-source software has many advantages; it is often price-free and has a wide range of support and development options. It is also highly customisable, in that users can alter the source code as they wish. Open-source software also benefits from a larger pool of developers, meaning any issue or bug is fixed quickly.
On the downside, users of open-source software sometimes need to have a degree of technical knowledge in order to use it properly. Additionally, the quality of open source software can vary, as the code may often be written by individuals with different levels of proficiency.
Despite the possible disadvantages, Open-Source Software has become increasingly popular over the past few decades. This is due to the advancement of the internet and the rise in collaborative software development projects. Open-Source Software provides users with a powerful and cost effective way of developing and using advanced computer applications.
