Open-source software is
required to have its source code freely available; end-users
have the right to modify and redistribute the software, as
well as the right to package and sell the software. Software
with source code in the public domain meets these criteria,
as does any software distributed under the popular GNU
General Public License (GPL). Open-source licenses may have
additional restrictions, such as a requirement to preserve
the authors' names and copyright statement in the code.
The open source movement is a large movement of programmers
and other computer users that advocates unrestricted access
to the source code of software. Openness is a term that has
evolved to refer to projects that are open to anyone and
everyone to contribute to, before and/or after the actual
programming. Both groups assert that this more open style of
licensing allows for a superior software development
process, and therefore that pursuing it is in line with
rational self-interest.
Proponents of the open source development methodology claim
that it is superior in a number of ways to the closed source
(proprietary) method (and some individuals may suggest that
the open source methodology is the methodology that is able
to produce the quality of software that can be higher than
that produced by any other methodology or technique).
Stability, reliability, and security are frequently cited as
reasons to support open source. One successful application
of the open source model is the Linux operating system,
which is renowned for its stability and security
characteristics.
Open source is a term that is applied to the entire concept
that the creation and organization of knowledge is best
created through open and cooperative efforts.
Open source advocates usually believe that open source
programs are more secure, mostly because everybody can see
and fix it. Closed source advocates, including Microsoft
corporation, argue that since no one is responsible for open
source, there is no way to know whether it has been fixed.
Open Source advocates argue back that no one knows what bugs
exist in a closed source product, since there is no one to
check claims made by its vendor.
Here are a few FREE
Open Source programs you can investigate:
Open Office aims to
compete with Microsoft Office and emulate Microsoft Office's
look and feel where suitable (the interface is similar
to that of Microsoft Office XP). It also imports from and
exports to almost all Microsoft Office file formats. The
ability to read and write Microsoft Office file formats is
an essential feature of Open Office for many users.
http://www.openoffice.org
Intended as an
alternative to Photoshop, GIMP is popular for processing the
digital graphics and photographs displayed on the
Internet. Typical uses include creating graphics and logos,
resizing and cropping photos, changing colors, combining
images using a layer paradigm, removing unwanted image
features, and converting between different image formats.
http://www.gimp.org
GnuCash allows you to
track bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses. As
quick and intuitive to use as a checkbook register, it is
based on professional accounting principles to ensure
balanced books and accurate reports.
http://www.gnucash.org
Mozilla Firefox is a
cross-platform web browser that has attracted attention as
an alternative to Internet Explorer, which has come
under fire for its alleged poor program design and
insecurity. With over 5 million downloads in the first 12
days of its release and over 20 million in no more than 11
weeks, Firefox 1.0 is one of the most-used free and open
source applications.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox
Mozilla Thunderbird is
cross-platform email and news client developed by the
Mozilla Foundation. Thunderbird makes emailing safer,
faster, and easier than ever before with the industry's best
implementations of features such as intelligent spam
filters, built-in RSS reader, quick search, and much more.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird |