Open Source Software

Open source software is freely distributed and must be available to anyone to use for any purpose. If software is open, then programmers can read modify and redistribute the source code for the software and this enables the software to evolve at a high speed. Any number of people can fix bugs, adapt the software to better meet their needs, or improve it and then share their efforts with larger community of interested parties. The term open source refers to software in which the source code is freely available for others to view, amend, and adapt. In this sense, Open Source is similar to peer review, which is used to strengthen the progress of scholarly communication.

Open Source promotes software reliability and quality by supporting independent peer review and rapid evolution of source code. To be certified as open source, the license of a program must guarantee the right to read, redistribute, modify, and use it freely. Open Source Software differs from commercial and proprietary software. Open source software includes the original code for the program, whatever language it is written in and that it also may be subsequently redistributed for free.

Adopting Open Source Software requires the same type of evaluation as purchasing commercial software, but with some modification. Using Open Source Software to provide core functionality, such as library management system might be seen as too risky, while open source software that provides stand-alone functionality that complements current systems might be acceptable.

Open Source Software is software licensed under an agreement that conforms to the Open Source Definition

• Access to Source Code

• Freedom to Redistribute

• Freedom to Modify

• Non-Discriminatory Licensing (licensee/product)

• Integrity of Authorship

• Redistribution in accordance with the Open Source License Agreement

Open Source Software is distributed with its source code. The Open Source Definition has three essential features

• It allows free re-distribution of the software without royalties or licensing fees to the author

• It requires that source code be distributed with the software or otherwise made available for no more than the cost of distribution

• It allows anyone to modify the software or derive other software from it, and to redistribute the modified software under the same terms.