This site is about open source, and is geared to the average computer user not the geeks. The content found here is enabling people to start using open source software and is not a forum to bash Microsoft, Apple or other providers of closed source software.
What is open source software?
Open source software is any application or group of applications that has the source code published. Though most open source software is free to download and use open source is not about free software it about the ability of the user to modify, customize or improve the software.
OK so you and I are not programmers do how dose this help us?
Because the source code is available, any0ne with the ability to make changes to a open source application can. this allows for per user customization as well as a large active and responsive development community working on upgrades and patches. Open source dose not mean that there is as coding free for all going on quite the opposite exist. Like commercial closed source software development, project managers and developers work toward releasing a product that fits the specifications determined in their planning phase. Normal beta to sable release cycles are used. the real power of open source is the community structure. Users are very much a part of the community, users can submit suggestions, and even code for consideration for inclusion in the project.
Many businesses and organizations like the ability to customize open source applications to fit specific needs.
Open source is not just Linux!
Though Linux has became synonymous with Linux there are other open source operating systems and a wide selection of open source programs many of them run on Windows and/or Mac. For many normal computer users switching to a new operating system is frightening, however ther are plenty of Open source applications that offer great value available for the non Linux user.
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