Open source

Open source is a decentralized model of software development.

It makes software freely available for anyone to modify and redistribute. This includes the source code, which is the set of instructions for a program. Licensing conditions allow users to view the code and design documents. This model encourages open collaboration among many different people. A core principle of this system is peer production. In peer production, products like blueprints and documentation are available to the public. This promotes universal access to designs and their redistribution.

The mechanism of open source relies on a specific cycle of creation. A developer creates a program and shares the source code. Other people can then study the code to understand how it works. They might find a bug or want to add a new feature. When they make these changes, they create a version called a fork. The developer can then publish this fork back to the community. This process allows the software to improve through collective effort. It removes the high access costs often found in proprietary systems. In proprietary systems, copyright creates a monopoly that can limit how people use work.

There are many different ways to apply the open source model. It is used in open source eCommerce and appropriate technology. It is even used in the field of open source drug discovery. The model also applies to hardware through open source hardware designs.

In these cases, digital designs are shared for free. Anyone with digital manufacturing tools, like a RepRap 3D printer, can replicate the product. This allows people to build things for only the cost of materials. This approach can provide immense value to the person who originally shared the design. They often receive feedback and improvements from the wider community.

The history of sharing technical information began long before the Internet. In the early days of automobiles, a man named George B. Selden held a patent for a 2-cycle gasoline engine. A group of monopolists used this patent to control the industry. They forced manufacturers to follow their demands or face lawsuits. However, Henry Ford won a legal challenge against the Selden patent in 1911. This made the patent virtually worthless. Afterward, US automotive manufacturers formed an association to share patents. By World War II, Ford and other firms shared hundreds of patents for free. This helped the industry grow without the need for money exchanges or lawsuits.

Modern software sharing has its own distinct history. In the 1950s and 1960s, IBM released source code for its operating systems. A group called SHARE helped people exchange software during this time. In 1969, IBM began unbundling its software, which meant they started charging for it. Around the same time, ARPANET researchers used a "Request for Comments" process. This process encouraged feedback on telecommunication protocols and helped create the early Internet. As the Internet grew, software was distributed through tools like Usenet and Gopher. This allowed projects like BSD and Linux to grow through community discussion.

The term "open source" was officially introduced in 1998.

Before this, people used terms like "free software" or "shareware." A group of developers wanted to reframe the conversation for businesses. They felt the term "free software" was too focused on politics and morality. The word "free" was also ambiguous because it could mean zero cost. Christine Peterson suggested the name "open source" during a meeting in Palo Alto, California. The term gained strength as the Internet rose in popularity. Leaders like Eric S. Raymond helped popularize the name through the Open Source Initiative.

Open source projects hold significant economic value in the modern world.

The Battery Open Source Software Index (BOSS) tracks the most important projects. Linux is the most valuable, with a market value of $16 billion. Git follows with a value of $2 billion. MySQL is valued at $1.87 billion, and Hadoop is valued at $3 billion. Other major projects include Docker, which is worth $1 billion. These projects are influential in the labor market and online discussions. They show that sharing code can create massive economic impact.

This model connects to many different ways of creating and sharing. Some people create for their own sake, like Wikipedia editors.

Others use a "freemium" model, where a limited version is free. Some businesses give away work to gain market share. There are also models like open-access publishing for research. This allows for a system where the cost of maintenance is distributed. This helps solve the "Maker/Taker" problem by sharing the burden of work. Through these connections, open source remains a vital part of global innovation.