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open-source Definition

☆ open-source (-sôrs′)

adjective

designating or of software whose code is made public and which is thus available to any programmer to develop and customize

Open Source Hacker Definition
Open source proponents believe that software users should be able to view the source code and make changes to it to correct glitches or produce value-added features. The Linux operating system, for example, is open source.

See Also: Internet; Open Source Initiative (OSI).

open source Telecom Definition
Also known as open source software (OSS). Software distributed under a license that makes the source code (i.e., program instructions) freely available to the end user. Such a license often encourages the user to modify the source code as long as the modifications are made freely available to other users, as well. Open source software generally is available at no charge, i.e., free. Linux is a classic example of successful open source software. See also software, Linux.
open-source Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: Total Freedom - using open-source removes the reliance on a specific software package, hosting service or support provider.
  • make: However, execs said that Solaris 10 also contains third-party code for which the company will need approval to make open-source.

Adjective modifier

  • popular: Blender Those more familiar with the interface used by Blender, the popular open-source 3D modeling package may be interested in instinctive Blender.
  • powerful: It's a database driven site using the powerful open-source Joomla software.
  • free: It aims to use free, open-source and standards-based technologies as far as possible.
  • many: Also, SlashDot http://www.slashdot.org ( home of many open-source related flames ) launches Slashdot Investor.

Modifies a noun

  • software: Free open-source software is, they say, bad for economic growth.
  • os: The open-source OS is not considered a commercial threat on the desktop at present.
  • operating: Linux, an open-source operating system, is already available on a wide range of mobile handsets.
  • browser: The seminal open-source browser Mozilla has finally been released in a stable version 1.0.
  • license: Open Source Computer software source code that is released under an open-source license or to the public domain.
  • developer: Critics of the proposal say that introducing such legislation would be detrimental to European small businesses and open-source software developers.

Modifying Another Word

  • now: Originally developed by IBM, it is now open-source.
  • not: For chemistry, where most publications are not open-source, its coverage is a long way from being compehensive.

Noun used with modifier

  • something: This is where the zealots push forward their pet solution - usually something open-source like Linux, or completely noddy like Mac.
  • project: In this spirit I am making a few projects open-source for all to look at and hopefully contribute to.