What is meant by OPEN SOURCE?

Question

LINUX

Answer 1

Open source software is software that is open for editing over the net. Anyone with some technical know-how can edit the source code and change the program, so the software is continuously developing.

Answer 2

Well, I don't use Linux, so I can't say about Linux. But open source is generally software, free and pay, on the internet. That allows the end user to obtain an modify the source code.

Answer 3

It's just in the name Open Source... This just means that you have access to the source prog with this label. Souce (source code) is the code written in a human way. This code is written in a language suche as Java, C, C# or C++ for example. Then we use a compiler to make it understandable by the machine once compiled we have a Binary.
Some software are distributed only in binary format, so you do not know how they are written and you can not add directly feature by yourself.
Open source let you access the code and recompile it in your environment (need sometime some tweaking).
Open source is often associated with free software what is not a rule since both concept are separated.

Answer 4

Open source software is similar in idea to "free software" but slightly less rigid than the free software movement. Users of open source software are (generally) able to view the source code, alter and re-distribute open source software. There is however less of an emphasis in the open source movement o­n the right of information and source code to be free and in some cases companies are able to develop proprietary products based o­n open source o­nes.
for example as u said Linux is a open source operating system

Answer 5

Open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's sources. Some consider it as a philosophy, and others consider it as a pragmatic methodology. Before open source became widely adopted, developers and producers used a variety of phrases to describe the concept; the term open source gained popularity with the rise of the Internet and its enabling of diverse production models, communication paths, and interactive communities.

Answer 6

open source simply means that the source code is open. I.e you can amend it, write new code to extend the software etc unlike a propriatry software (like windows) where you can only use the complied version

Answer 7

It means the source code is provided so you can modify it and share your knowledge with others

Answer 8

good question... i have that when i go to internet exployer but when i go to msn internet i have a whole page of stuff.. maybe we just have a open source on the internet and type in what we need to look for and it comes up.. that is the way mine does anyway...

Answer 9

non-proprietory software/firmware code that anyone may use (or add to) without fee.