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Open source software (OSS) refers to software whose source code is made available
to the public, allowing users to view, modify, and distribute the code. The term
"open source" emphasizes the principles of transparency, collaboration, and user
empowerment. Key characteristics of open source software include:
Users have access to the source code, which is the human-readable version of the
software.
This transparency allows users to understand how the software functions.
Freedom to Modify:
Users are free to modify the source code to suit their specific needs or fix
issues.
Modifications can be shared with the community, contributing to a collaborative
development environment.
Freedom to Distribute:
Linux operating system, Apache HTTP Server, Mozilla Firefox, and the Python
programming language are prominent examples of successful open source projects.
Benefits:
Public Collaboration:
Platforms like GitHub and GitLab provide issue tracking, facilitating bug
reporting, feature requests, and communication within the community.
Community Governance:
Automated testing and deployment practices ensure software quality and rapid
release cycles.
The open source development model emphasizes transparency, inclusivity, and
collective problem-solving, fostering a dynamic and innovative software development
environment.