Open-source model
Overview
The open-source model is a decentralized software development model that encourages open collaboration. A main principle of open-source software development is peer production, with products such as source code, blueprints, and documentation freely available to the public. The open-source movement in software began as a response to the limitations of proprietary code. The model is used within the greater framework of a software development life cycle, but contrasts with more traditional methods such as the waterfall model and the agile software development model.
History
The open-source model and the communal, collaborative manner it suggests evolved over time. The model was originally not defined formally, but emerged in the early 1980s as part of the free software movement. The term "open source" was coined in 1998 by a group of people — the same group that would later form the Open Source Initiative (OSI) — who were interested in promoting the concepts of free software, but disagreed with the Free Software Foundation's vehement stance against proprietary software.
Principles
The open-source model includes the concept of concurrent yet different agendas and differing approaches in production, in contrast with more centralized models of development such as those typically used in commercial software companies. A main principle of open-source software development is peer production by bartering and collaboration, with the end-product, source material, 'blueprints', and documentation available at no cost to the public. This principle is also known as copyleft.
Licensing
Open-source licenses grant licensees the right to copy, modify and redistribute source code (or content). These licenses may also impose obligations (e.g., modifications must be released under the same license, or source code must be made available). Popular open-source licenses include the GNU General Public License (GPL), Apache License, and MIT License.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The open-source model has a number of advantages, including increased flexibility, higher quality, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in. Many large companies have embraced open-source technologies: for example, in the 2010s, Microsoft shifted from an adversarial stance to a more supportive one towards open-source software.
On the other hand, it also has several disadvantages, including questionable interoperability, less user-friendly interfaces, and a lack of technical support.
Impact
The impact of open-source software on the world of technology, and more broadly, the global economy, is enormous. Open-source software has been instrumental in the creation of the Internet and the rise of the World Wide Web. It has also opened up new possibilities for technology innovation, and has made significant contributions to areas of the economy including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data.