Open Source Software
Computer Science: OCR A Level, topic 2.2.7
Open Source Software
Open source software is a model of software development which allows permitted use of its source code.
Open source software
- Open source projects are projects where the source code used to create the project is made publicly available.
- Anyone can legally view, modify and distribute the source code.
Pros of open source
There are many advantages to open source, such as:
- Open source software is usually free.
- Open source software is maintained by a large community of contributors.
- Open source software encourages collaboration.
- Open source software encourages rapid development.
Cons of open source
- There are also some issues with open source development:
- Open source software usually provides no warranty or guarantee.
- Smaller projects may not receive regular updates.
- Official customer support may not be available.
Test yourself on Open Source Software
Can anyone view the source code of an open source project?