?? OPEN SOURCE ?? for Newbies

[Wizard]

Introduction

Open source doesn't just mean access to the source code. The distribution terms of open-source software must comply with the following criteria:

1. Free Redistribution

The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.

2. Source Code

The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. Where some form of a product is not distributed with source code, there must be a well-publicized means of obtaining the source code for no more than a reasonable reproduction cost–preferably, downloading via the Internet without charge.

3. Derived Works

The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software.

4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code

The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time. The license must explicitly permit distribution of software built from modified source code

Courtesy :
http://www.opensource.org/

Visit above link for more info....


Open Source software?

Freshmeat ( http://freshmeat.net/ )
SourceForge ( http://sf.net/ )
Open Source Directory - OSDir.com ( http://osdir.com/ )
BerliOS ( http://developer.berlios.de/ )
Bioinformatics.org ( http://bioinformatics.org/ )

[darksat]

Keep it on , dude

[drgrudge]

dei wizard, still i cant understand wht is open source(lol!)

[Wizard]

To be simple : Open SOurce means da...U can distribute the software and also modify the code ..

IF u wanna a brief abt this...google it ( best way )

[drgrudge]

so i can change the way that the software works and do anything without the permission of the developer?

[xenkatesh]

yes drgudge! and also it u can modify only but u cant sell it.U should distribute freely only!

[GNUrag]

Originally Posted by Wizard

To be simple : Open SOurce means da...U can distribute the software and also modify the code ..

@Wizard... you have completely ignored the efforts and contributions of the GNU Project .... the term Open Source is actually a misnomer... and it can potentially be used by proprietary companies like Microsoft to label their products as open source...

I think you have not investigated the legal implications of term OpenSource ... i'll shed some light onto it...

According to OpenSource defination, one can have access to source code and modify it too... But, You do not have permission to redistribute the changed source code... .... Microsoft is known to label its programs as OpenSource, on the basis that they give away the source code..... but you dont have ther permission to compile the code to verify if the code actually works !!!!

The term Free Software clears such ambiguity... GNU Project has been around for 20 years.... and the OpenSource movement forked out from GNU Project around 1996 to attract the big bosses of organizations and tried to paint a rosy picture...

-Anurag

[visvo]

hey ! i have heard that big name in linux like SUSE ,mandrake,etc.
have came under one flag to start a common linux .. where is it?

[Wizard]

I think you have not investigated the legal implications of term OpenSource ... i'll shed some light onto it...

@ Anurag....Yea m8 I dont hav the exact idea abt this..anywz Good Explaination