Today we show you what is the open source system and what is it for – Full tutorial of this term so relevant in the world of digital freedom. Undoubtedly, it is something that benefits users, since from downloading and installing LibreOffice, until edit / modify programs, all this is covered by this proposal.
What are the origins of open source?
In general terms, Open Source refers to all software that offers its open source, so that it can be modified by any user. In fact, Open Source in Spanish is usually called Open Source.
The term was born in the early 90 during the free software movement, that has allowed many programs, including the best web browsers be free. The terminology seeks to expand everything discussed in the so-called free software with some notable differences (that we will comment on next).
In any case, In general terms, it can be said that Open Source refers exclusively to all that software that can be edit source code. It is a movement that seeks the total customization of the software we use on our devices.
Where can I download open source applications?
Open source or 'open source applications’ consist of programs that reveal their code, development process and also other people can join in its development. If you are curious and want to find programs or applications that have this quality, In this article we provide you with some reliable pages from where you can download them. no risk of encountering a virus:
FossHub: This is one of the best pages where you can get Open Source applications, since it is totally focused on hosting and downloading programs with this type of source and you can access them for freeWhat's more, the great advantage of this website is that you do not run the risk of downloading malware, since it focuses on taking care of this aspect.
GitHub: This website is quite popular with developers, since it is one of the oldest pages dedicated to storing and downloading open source programs. On this page we can directly access the code fountain of the application and we will also have a record with all the modifications made to the program that we want to download.
FilePuma: This is another option among so many pages that we can find on the web to download open source applications, Here we will find these programs arranged in categories from the most popular or recent to those that are not so visited, fulfills the same storage and download functions, while taking care of viruses.
What good is developing open source applications?
When you develop an open source program, facilitates it to others that users access it and its source code at no cost Some, in addition to giving other programmers the opportunity to make modifications to the Software, how to add details and correct errors.
You could say that open source programs are quite useful for joint development, they also have the advantage of being able to be freely distributed provided that the terms specified in the license are met.
What characteristics do open source programs have?
Beyond everything said before, there is a great philosophical movement / moral behind free and open source software. This is understood in a much simpler way when the proposals that each of these movements have is analyzed..
The Open Source proposal focuses mainly on the technical development capabilities of the software. In other words, refers to the ability that people can have in bulk to edit a source code and modify it / improve it.
Regarding the free software proposal, We find four recognized freedoms among those who defend said movement.
Free software freedoms
- Liberty 0: refers to the freedom to run the program for any kind of purpose without limitations.
- Liberty 1: is the freedom of study on the program, namely, in order to know how it works. What also contemplates its edition, i.e change your source code.
- Liberty 2: is the freedom to distribute the software, for the purpose of helping the people around you.
- Liberty 3: Liberty 3 refers to the freedom that the program seeks to improve. What refers to modifications of the software in order to improve it, which in turn also includes the distribution of these modified versions.
The previous freedoms are those that have even given rise to free programs for the design and modification of aesthetics, cars and other very specific tasks. Certainly the principles shown before have changed the way we interact with our PCs.
In fact, all the principles shown are also perfectly applicable to open source. In any case, Open Source refers more exclusively to the subject of source code modification, being this the main subtle difference between both proposals.
On the other hand, keep in mind that free software / open source not the same as free options. For example, we can access free antivirus for PC, but, although it has a free option, there are also payment options, although its code is made with Open Source, but it is not modifiable.
What are the differences between open source programs, free and closed source?
Open source programs and open source programs, have very similar characteristics to each other, since in both, other programmers have the opportunity to access the source code and make modifications.
But when we talk about an open source program, so says its name totally ‘free’, without licenses or conditions limiting modification or distribution of the same with said alterations; This totally changes with open source programs, since although you can modify and distribute them, you will always have to follow the terms specified in the license.
On the other hand, closed source programs are all those whose source code is not available for third parties without copyright. Namely, in these programs there is no way to analyze the code, much less make software modifications, examples of these could be Adobe Reader or Skype.
What values does open source promote?
When we talk about values within open source, It could be said that among these the generosity, reciprocity and empathy.
From the fact of sharing what we create so that others can freely access our program, in addition to giving us the opportunity to help others, also rewards us with the development of our content, modification of details and even bug fixes. What's more, in a way, this type of collaboration makes users create a commitment between them, looking for the common good to grow.
Differences between free and open source software
As we pointed out earlier, there are some differences in terms of Free and open source software. Anyway, Let's take a look at the free software movement. Free software refers to all those programs that can be acquired for free, at least in its Anglo-Saxon version (free software).
Certainly, At present, the free software movement also contemplates the study and modification of the source code of the programs. Anyway, some people prefer to use the term “Open Source”, but free software is also perfectly valid.
On the other hand, if we go to the philosophical aspect, the distinctions are somewhat more marked, since the so-called Open Source movement raises different proposals to those of the free software movement.
