An Ode to Open Source

If you are working in software development, you know and most likely use open source.

Usually, open source refers to computer programs those source code is accessible to the broad public, accessible for use and modification.

Open-source code is characteristically built in a collaborative effort in which software developers improve the original code and then share it with the community.

Open source started in the technological community in response to branded software owned by corporations, who in general charge for their product.
It is successfully removing the access costs for the consumer and the developer of derivative works by preventing the restrictions of copyright that non-open source software normally has and is associated with restricted access and costs.

Open source is a development model that provides:

1. Access to a product’s design or blueprint via free license
2. Redistribution of that design or blueprint by anyone
3. Improvements/modifications by anyone
4. Self-enhancing diversity of production models, communication paths, and interactive communities

Today, open source software powers big parts of our world’s technology.
In the last 10+ years, there has been a relentless implementation of open source code in numerous computer programs, technology platforms, web and mobile applications and more.

Without open source, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Amazon, and many other of the well-known or less well-known modern technology company wouldn’t exist as we know them today.
And, what would technology be today without the incredible community of innovative, excellent programmers that laid the foundation of cloud computing, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), innovative databases, mobile applications and even the Internet as we know it today by continuously improving open source?

The open-source model is different compared with the centralized software development models used in commercial software:

1. One of the key principles of open-source software development is peer production. Developers trade knowledge, support each other and collaborate during the development process.
2. Second core principle of open source development is that source materials, end products and documentation of code are permanently available at no cost to the public.

The basic economic theory predicts low costs lead to a high consumption of the product and, in addition, promote a more frequent creation of derivative works.
Some other proponents also claim that developing and using open source relieves society of the administrative burden and costs of copyright.

Thanks, to all open source developers who improve software and make it accessible to all of us – you are the foundation a modern technology.