Open Source Definition
What I am going to be focusing on is the actual model based around the open source definition, but in order to better explain this model, the term "open source" needs to be defined. Open source in the most general sense means that the makings of a product are accessible to everyone, this could be the code for a program, design of a circuit board, recipe, or even music and video. It is generally accepted that the term “open source” was originally chosen after the source code of what was called Mozilla was released in 1999 by Netscape. But, there are also others who claim that open source was born with the advent of the internet, but was not fully named until 1999.
Most often the term open source is associated with software and the availability of access the source, but the philosophy can be transferred to other areas as well. A good example of this is an open source beer named Vores Øl. Their website goes into more detail link, but the concept is basically a recipe for beer that is shared with everyone and is open for changes. This is one application of defining a product as open source, but what is more relevant is the development model associated with open source. With the original assets and makeup of the products available to its users, there can be a large amount of interaction between the people using the product and those creating the product. The communication that takes place is aided even more because in most situations, the people who are contributing to the product are the ones who used it and had ideas for improvements, becoming more and more involved.
In my next post I am going to go into more detail about the model and give some examples of great open source projects.
Comments
Posted by: Jeremy Smith
Posted on: February 23, 2006 02:32 AM
Our Wiki is open source as is our Single Sign On server. So are the underlying web servers that power them and the database (and more).
There's more, too. Our Identity Management System runs on open source power as does the Software Center.
So... if you wanted to pick out systems specific to Case that our powered by open source tech... these would be some.
Posted by: snraowij
Posted on: December 10, 2006 12:27 AM
[url]http://finlans.us/online-1220/read.cgi[/url]
Posted by: gyflhts cznq
Posted on: February 8, 2007 06:41 AM
rbzs ibcqhf kdhys zmkfr aredxluv tnydhg dqyovb