How can we explain open source OS?

Answer 1

I would suggest first explaining Open Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source

Then explaining what an operating system is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_System

Answer 2

An open-source OS is a design philosophy: the source code is available to everyone free of charge. Everyone is invited to add features, patch bugs or modify the OS to fit a particular need. Much like in a community - you help others, others help you and the whole community can reap the benefits. And there will be a lot of good things in a community that can be as big as there are people living on Earth.

In order to prevent stealing, patenting and the like, the license for an open-source OS strictly forbids any kind of commerce involving the software itself - you can sell a CD with Linux in it but only if the price is no more than the cost to burn that CD.

The most used license for open-source software is the GNU General Public License. Read it at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.txt and you'll understand a bit more about the open-source movement.

Answer 3

Open source ability that the source code of the working application is obtainable to all of us who has the will and the talents to make adjustments to it. unlike domicile windows the place they shop the code hidden from all of us. Linux in all of its many flavors is the main undemanding occasion. The benefit that this provides, is that if somebody has a gadget that would not artwork good below Linux, they are able to (in the event that they have the talents) make adjustments to Linux to repair the challenge. This restore alongside with different people who've made a similar restore can then be evaluated via the persons overseeing that distinctive style of Linux (or the Linux Kernel - the middle of the Linux OS) and the main suitable restore can then be included into patches or into the subsequent variations. secure practices holes would be patched in a similar way. in short this provides the skill to have a challenge solved and the answer to the final public plenty quicker than with a closed source OS the place patches are released while they get around to fixing them and get around to creating an sturdy patch. this would take weeks or months. With open source, it relatively is days or in a minimum of one occasion i understand of, hours.

Answer 4

It's an open source operating system. What is there to explain that you don't already know from searching Google?

Rawlyn.

Answer 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source

Answer 6

http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php