what is open source software?  

Open source software is software for which the underlying code has been made available for users. Users are then able to read it or change it

Answered by varadaraju , an ibibo Master, at 3:17 PM on March 24, 2008

open source software is that software available for free and whose source code can be modified by users.

Answered by Nisha , an ibibo Master, at 1:51 PM on March 24, 2008

Open Source Softwares are those where a user can modify the source code of the softwares and use or manage it in his own way.
All the Linux Operating System available in the market are open source.

Answered by Prakash , an ibibo Advisor, at 11:54 AM on March 24, 2008

Open source software (OSS) are built and maintained by a large network of volunteer programmers. Prime examples of open source products are the web-server “Apache”, the internet address system “Internet Protocol”, and the internet browser “Mozilla Firefox”. Yet, one of the most successful programs is the “Linux” operating system, the open source software variant of the UNIX operating system
The Open Source Definition is used by the Open Source Initiative to determine whether or not a software license can be considered open source. The definition was based on the Debian Free Software Guidelines, written and adapted primarily by Bruce Perens.

Under The Open Source Definition, licenses must meet ten conditions in order to be considered open source licenses. Below is a copy of the definition, with unauthorized explanatory additions

Answered by sujata , an ibibo Specialist, at 9:41 PM on March 23, 2008

A program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, ie, open. Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community.

Answered by pooja , an ibibo Master, at 4:11 PM on March 23, 2008

in short - opensource software is one which is not bound by any licensing law to be modified by the end user or which is licensed to be ammneded modified by user. source means source code of the pogramme. e.g. you can't change any program modeule of windows or ms office except for the customisation of some windows / applications to suite ur normal operation / use of them to th e extent as provided in the program. but you can't re-engineer any software item / module in windows or office applications even if you kno programming. But there are many freely available softwares (both os as well as application) like unix and openoffice which (if you know) you can change programming to meet ur personal requirement / interst / taste.... These os and office application are under constant change by thousands of users and (if u don't know programming..)you can check with them if some one has made tailor made items which suite ur way of working on pc. The main advantage of opensource software is its free availbility and transformability (mainly created to curb the menace by licensed software which have created so much of monopoly that avarage pc user is fed up...) Regards.

Answered by Sunit , an ibibo Citizen, at 3:47 PM on March 23, 2008

Open source software is a software whose source code is available to the public and can be downloaded. One can then make changes to the software according to choice. The code using which it was made is available to everyone.

Answered by Chaitanya , an ibibo Advisor, at 3:29 PM on March 23, 2008

Dr. sahib an open source software is a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, ie, open. Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community.

Open source software is software for which the underlying code has been made available for users. Users are then able to read it or change it as they wish. Linux is an example of open source software.

Answered by keshto , an ibibo Master, at 2:32 PM on March 23, 2008

Well Satish , Open source software is computer software for which the human-readable source code is made available under a copyright license (or arrangement such as the public domain) that meets the Open Source Definition.

This permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form. It is often developed in a public, collaborative manner. Open source software is the most prominent example of open source development and often compared to user generated content.

For more detailed information , please visit the source site :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O pen-source_software

Answered by Alok Gupta , an ibibo Guru, at 2:27 PM on March 23, 2008