Open source software is literally taking over the world, significantly affecting all aspects of information technology. Over the past five years, the use of open source has doubled and reached unprecedented heights. Today, open source is the basis of almost all operating systems, applications, databases, cloud computing, big data, and so on. In today's information technology world, open source products offer huge opportunities for both companies and developers, and outperform proprietary software in terms of price, quality, security, reliability, and customization. The term "open source" was first used in 1997.
Software is divided into two main categories depending on the terms of the license used: proprietary and free software and open source software. The fundamental difference between them is the presence or absence of the right to make changes to the code.
The source code of closed (proprietary) software, as a rule, cannot be copied, studied or modified. Such source code is kept secret and is the property of its authors. The most prominent examples of widely used proprietary software are the Windows and Mac operating systems, Microsoft Office, Skype, iTunes, Google Earth, WinRAR, Adobe products, Oracle's version of Java, and some versions of Unix.
Free and open source licenses, on the other hand, give access to the source code to anyone who would like to study it, improve it, and discuss it with others. Such licenses promote collaboration and the free exchange of ideas, sharing knowledge and joining forces, greatly multiplying opportunities. Examples of free and open source software include the Linux kernel, GNOME Desktop, and the Free Berkeley Software Distribution (FreeBSD).
Meanwhile, it is important to note that some experts prefer to separate the concepts of open and free software. The main difference is in philosophy: the free software community is a social movement concerned with ethics and freedom, while the open source community is concerned with purely practical aspects. In fact, both terms describe the same category of software, since almost all open source software is also free software.
Over the past decade, open source has become the main base for software development and the engine of innovation for many companies around the world. In many cases, free and open source software has significant advantages over proprietary software, and price is far from the only one.
Open source software is basically well developed, high quality software. Technical superiority, not cost, is the main reason why companies choose open source software.
Open source attracts the best talent in the tech sector. While proprietary software is developed by a small group of specialists, free and open source software is created by thousands of the most skilled and motivated developers.
Moreover, all open source users have access to the source code and debugging tools. Everyone is free to investigate and fix bugs, suggest possible improvements, and ensure that the functionality of the product is continually enhanced.
