2 definitions
for open source
From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) :
open source n. [common; also adj. `open-source'] Term coined in March
1998 following the Mozilla release to describe software distributed in
source under licenses guaranteeing anybody rights to freely use, modify,
and redistribute, the code. The intent was to be able to sell the
hackers' ways of doing software to industry and the mainstream by
avoiding the negative connotations (to suits) of the term "{free
software". For discussion of the follow-on tactics and their
consequences, see the Open Source Initiative (http://www.opensource.org)
site.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) :
open source
A method and philosophy for software
licensing and distribution designed to encourage use and
improvement of software written by volunteers by ensuring that
anyone can copy the source code and modify it freely.
The term "open source" is now more widely used than the
earlier term "{free software" (promoted by the Free Software
Foundation) but has broadly the same meaning - free of
distribution restrictions, not necessarily free of charge.
There are various open source licenses available.
Programmers can choose an appropriate license to use when
distributing their programs.
The Open Source Initiative promotes the Open Source
Definition.
The Cathedral and the Bazaar
(http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar.html).
was a seminal paper describing the open source phenomenon.
Open Sources - O'Reilly book with full text online
(http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/opensources/book/perens.html).
Articles from ZDNet
(http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/opensource/).
(1999-12-29)
