An Essay on Open Source
So maybe you've heard a bit about this rising new operating system Linux. Often considered a capable but extremely hard to use operating system that mere mortals without computer science degrees should not be caught dealing with. It's unfortunate that this illusion exists because Linux actually refers to a huge variety of Operating Systems for your computer. There are distributions of Linux made by corporations, communities, or even individuals. The only thing that they share in common is that they use the Linux kernel. The kernel is the core of your operating system it communicates between the software on your system and your hardware as well as making decisions on how your system resources (CPU usage, memory, etc...) get allocated.
That is the definition of Linux, technically speaking a kernel. However, when we use the term Linux we are usually referring to the various distributions of Linux. These distributions include not only the kernel but a complete operating system of software. You can find all sorts of distributions but one thing that just about all share in common is the open source or free software ideology.
The free software movement was spearheaded by the GNU project. It was Richard Stallman's dream, to make a completely free operating system so that he could get by using only free software. The use of the word free is unusual here because it is not referring to distribution at no cost. This concept is best explained on the GNU website:
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer.
Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. (1)
There are huge advantages to this kind of software. For one, as there are no restrictive copyrights preventing modification, redistribution, and improvement of the software, individuals, companies, and groups from all over the world can use the software for whatever they see fit, modify it to suit their needs, and redistribute the software so the entire community can benefit.
Usually software is made by companies who use restrictive copyrights to prevent anyone from modifying, customizing, redistributing or improving their software. You cannot legally buy Microsoft Word, add functionality, and then redistribute it. There are copyrights to prevent this Microsoft wants complete control over their software, they do not want some entrepreneur rising up and creating a new flavor of Microsoft Word. That would be bad for business.
The open source movement does away with the restrictive copyrights. Open source software can be be modified and redistributed freely. To make this possible it is required that the source code be made available so that any individual or group with proper programming skills can make improvements to the software and redistribute it to benefit the community. Open source isn't about some company making a lot of money, it's about an advancement in technology: people with a common in the development of software coming together to make the best possible piece of software they can. Due to the lack of restrictive copyrights which would otherwise prevent this type of work open source development is often rapid and innovative. Thousands of programmers from around the world working together not for money but because they enjoy what they do because they are fed up with commercial software that does not respect the rights of the user to use the software for whatever purpose they please.