What is Open Source?

• Software distributed under a license that allows inspection, modification and redistribution of the source code

  • Many different licenses with slightly different conditions
  • AKA free or libre software
  • “Free as in speech” vs. “free as in beer”

• Examples: Apache, Linux, gcc, X-windows, sendmail, GNOME, OpenOffice, GAIM, etc.

• Often developed by distributed teams of volunteers coordinated via the Internet