Open-Source Software Learning Path

Definition of open-source software

Open-source software (OSS) is computer software whose source code is publicly available. This openness lets users use, study, modify, and distribute the software, typically under an open-source license (or, less commonly, via dedication to the public domain). OSS is often defined using the Open Source Definition (OSD) created by the Open Source Initiative (OSI), which requires that the software be distributed under licenses meeting specific criteria, including non-discrimination and permission to use, modify, and redistribute. The meaning of “open source” is not without controversy. The OSI definition is widely used, but the term is shaped by social convention rather than legal control, and disputes arise over ethical versus commercial motivations, especially in relation to the “free software” movement. Public-domain software is also debated: some argue it is effectively open source, while others say it should not be treated as such because it lacks a formal license and rights can vary by jurisdiction. These semantic conflicts have led to related terms such as source-available, fair source, ethical source, shared source, and “fauxpen source.”

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Open Source Definition and ten criteria

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