Difference between revisions of "Main Page"
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::"Because open source software features open code, more programmers are able to view the code, create new functionality, and fix bugs. This follows the same natural way that science has developed over time." – [http://www.linux.com/feature/119429 Taoism of Open Source]; Chen Nan Yang; September 29, 2007. | ::"Because open source software features open code, more programmers are able to view the code, create new functionality, and fix bugs. This follows the same natural way that science has developed over time." – [http://www.linux.com/feature/119429 Taoism of Open Source]; Chen Nan Yang; September 29, 2007. | ||
This site provides information about Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called Free/Libre Open Source Software ([[FLOSS|F/LOSS]]) | This site provides information about Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called Free/Libre Open Source Software ([[FLOSS|F/LOSS]]), [[Free Software]], and sometimes just [[Open Source Initiative|Open Source]. FOSS has a legal license embedded in the software header that is kind of a lawyer's version of the golden rule - while making the software freely available to anyone to use, modify, and distribute as they wish, it also requires anyone that uses it to make it freely available to others in turn to use, modify, and distribute as they wish. | ||
FOSS is developed by meritocratic teams of developers, associations of companies, businesses that provide support and services, non-profit foundations, and research and academic institutions. | In addition, many FOSS licenses require that any changes (fixes and enhancements) that are made to the software must also be made freely available to others under the same license, thereby continually growing the software capability. These self-reinforcing kinds of licenses are particularly good at generating the trust that leads to [http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/estimatinglinux.php large] and sustainable communities, and most FOSS software today is released under a license including this principle. | ||
FOSS development can be supported by anyone, and is generally developed by meritocratic teams of developers, associations of companies, businesses that provide support and services, non-profit foundations, and research and academic institutions. | |||
FOSS is increasingly seen as the global standard and lowest-risk choice for operating systems to end-user applications. FOSS helps individuals and organizations reduce cost, increase use, improve standards compliance, enhance security, and avoid vendor lock-in. More information can be found in the following sections of this Wiki. | |||
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== Other Information == | == Other Information == | ||
Except for this home page and a | Except for this home page and a small number of other locked pages, you can edit any page by clicking the "Edit" tab. More information on formatting can be found [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page here]. To create a new page, first search for the desired name in the Search box on the left of the page, and if it doesn't already exist, then a link on the results page will enable you to "create new page". | ||
Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) can contain FOSS components, however limits availability of some functionality to closed proprietary software, and therefore is described on this site only on the [[Commercial Open Source Software|COSS]] page. | Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) can contain FOSS components, however limits availability of some functionality to closed proprietary software, and therefore is described on this site only on the [[Commercial Open Source Software|COSS]] page. | ||
Revision as of 19:49, 5 June 2010
- "Because open source software features open code, more programmers are able to view the code, create new functionality, and fix bugs. This follows the same natural way that science has developed over time." – Taoism of Open Source; Chen Nan Yang; September 29, 2007.
This site provides information about Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called Free/Libre Open Source Software (F/LOSS), Free Software, and sometimes just [[Open Source Initiative|Open Source]. FOSS has a legal license embedded in the software header that is kind of a lawyer's version of the golden rule - while making the software freely available to anyone to use, modify, and distribute as they wish, it also requires anyone that uses it to make it freely available to others in turn to use, modify, and distribute as they wish.
In addition, many FOSS licenses require that any changes (fixes and enhancements) that are made to the software must also be made freely available to others under the same license, thereby continually growing the software capability. These self-reinforcing kinds of licenses are particularly good at generating the trust that leads to large and sustainable communities, and most FOSS software today is released under a license including this principle.
FOSS development can be supported by anyone, and is generally developed by meritocratic teams of developers, associations of companies, businesses that provide support and services, non-profit foundations, and research and academic institutions.
FOSS is increasingly seen as the global standard and lowest-risk choice for operating systems to end-user applications. FOSS helps individuals and organizations reduce cost, increase use, improve standards compliance, enhance security, and avoid vendor lock-in. More information can be found in the following sections of this Wiki.
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Software |
Other Information
Except for this home page and a small number of other locked pages, you can edit any page by clicking the "Edit" tab. More information on formatting can be found here. To create a new page, first search for the desired name in the Search box on the left of the page, and if it doesn't already exist, then a link on the results page will enable you to "create new page".
Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) can contain FOSS components, however limits availability of some functionality to closed proprietary software, and therefore is described on this site only on the COSS page.
Other information:
