Overview

Open source is a philosophy of collaborative development. It relies on community contributions and transparent peer review to create high-quality software.

Key Licenses

  • MIT: Very permissive, allows almost any use.
  • Apache 2.0: Permissive but includes specific patent rights.
  • GPL: Requires derivative works to also be open source.

Impact

Open source powers the modern world, from the Linux kernel and Android OS to the web servers and databases that run the internet.

Related Terms