Open Source Software
Open Source Software
The goal of open source software is the free distribution of software along with the source code that wrote it. The full definition can be found at the Open Source Initiative, but the overall idea is very simple. There are two main points to open source:
- free — Free is a good thing. It means you don’t have to pay for the software and can distribute it to whomever you wish.
- source code included — If you’re not a developer, this point may not have much merit for you personally. This does, however, allow anyone who wishes to look and see how the program was made. From here, you can modify it to fit your own needs, fix problems with the software, or use the existing code to write your own software. This opens the door for a community of people to work on the same software for the benefit of all.
Not Just for the Computer Inclined
Open source software is usually associated with the GNU General Public License (GPL), Linux, or other seemingly over-technical or commercial projects. Although developing on open source software can be tricky, using open source software is far from technical. COSI endeavors to bring open source to the general public by promoting it in school and home environments.
It Can Do That?
Many corporations have switched over to free open source solutions for many of their services, including web hosting and data processing. Many universities have switched completely over to open source to save on license costs. Small businesses can use open source solutions in lieu of other software in order to decrease start up costs. COSI endeavors to encourage people and groups in all walks of life to consider open source software as a solution to their computing needs. Not only can it save money, but your software is backed by a community that can help satisfy your needs. It’s a win-win situation.