Open source software, explained
The license is central to the definition. Code that happens to be visible is not necessarily open source if people do not receive those rights.
Open source software makes its source code available under a license that lets people use, inspect, change, and redistribute it under stated conditions.
Open access creates options
A team can inspect how the software works, propose a change, or make its own version when the license allows it. A wider group of contributors may also maintain the same project.
These options can reduce dependence on one provider. They do not guarantee that moving, maintaining, or changing the software will be simple.
Your team still needs a plan
Open source software needs updates, security review, and support like other software. Some projects have paid support. Others expect the adopting team to handle more of that work.
Review the license and the project's maintenance record before relying on it. Then decide who in your organization will own updates and what happens if the project changes direction.
Open source software terms
- Open source license
- The terms that grant permission to use, inspect, change, and share source code.
- Contributor
- A person or organization that proposes a change to an open source project.
- Fork
- A separate copy of a project that can develop in a different direction.
What to check before adopting it
The license
Confirm what your business may do and which conditions apply when software is shared.
The maintainers
Check who reviews changes and how the project handles releases and reported problems.
Your support plan
Decide who will install updates, answer questions, and respond when something breaks.
Questions about open source software
It is often available without a license fee, but a business may still pay for hosting, setup, support, customization, or maintenance.
No. Open source concerns access to software code and the rights attached to it. An open standard sets shared rules that different products can implement.
Usually, yes, within the terms of its license. The license may also set conditions for distributing the changed version, so review it before making or sharing changes.
Related glossary topics
Choose software you can understand
Caffeine apps run on the Internet Computer, a public network built for this.