After several vague and fruitless Google searches I finally figured out what Open Source was. Here it is for those of us who like to use technology, but don't necessarily know how it works.
Source codes are the software written for computers. It includes operating systems, client software, and server programs. Many of these, like Microsoft Office, we must purchase for our computers. These source codes are locked and not available to the public.
Open Source is when those codes are unlocked and the information is made free and open to the public. It is sort of like a "No Purchase Necessary" situation. In fact Google (an open source) states that Open Source is "software that can be used, redistributed, or rewritten free of charges." Google also states that Open Source programs are publicly shared intellectual property.
Some examples of Open Source software are:
Operating Systems- Lixus
Server- Moodle
Client Server- Mozilla FireFox
Nice job! I love that you mentioned Mozilla Firefox, it works so much better than Internet Explorer for many online activities (especially my Facebook games). However, it seems that some school districts won't allow students to use Firefox.
ReplyDeleteI really like your word choice at the begiing of the post, "those of us who like technology but don't necessary know how it works"... What a great way to say it! And do not worry girl, you weren't the only one doing searches for what the heck OpenSource was. To me, it sounds much too complicated for the average person. Thanks for sahring the info with us!
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteI liked your reference to the meaning of open source. It does make it easy to understand when it is phrased in that manner.
Thanks
Wendy
Nicely done! I found that not all OS is free though, but most is. Sometimes you have to pay for it but it's pretty cheap, just paying for basic work done by the initial programmer or the rights to mess with it.
ReplyDeleteGreat job explaining using easy to understand wordings :) For the operating system, do you mean Linux?
ReplyDeleteLike Kim said, Firefox works MUCH better than internet explorer. This is the open source that I use the most. My internet explorer always seems to get stuck and give me problems.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that I was not the only one who was a little unsure about Open Source. I thought I was the only one who was out of the game :)