The term "open source", at its most basic level of definition, simply refers to software source code which is open and publicly available. The source code is free to be inspected and modified by anyone. No restrictions apply to its availability, even though open source does not require being free of charge. The common perception of an open source software project goes beyond the openness and availability of the source code. The success of open source products is largely influenced by the engagement of the community, the transparency of decisions made regarding the roadmap and design strategies, and the availability of concise and comprehensive documentation. Creating a sustainable open source project relies on users which are willing to give feedback and contribute back changes which keep the source code competitive. Hence, an open source strategy should not only consider how and under what license the software is released to the public. It should also discuss how the end user community is involved and how other open source projects may benefit from the implementation of environmental service infrastructures.
Free Software
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