Open-source
adj.hopeful, capableprofessional
What it means
Freely available for people to inspect, use, and improve.
Reach for it when describing software whose source code is available under a license permitting use and modification
Students improved the open-source tool for readers with low vision.
Choose between these
6- everyday
publicly developed
development happens in visible community channels
not when Public development does not establish license rights.
- warm
community-built
distributed contribution is being celebrated
not when Community-built software can still be proprietary.
- professional
free software
user freedoms are the philosophical and legal focus
not when Free refers to liberty, not necessarily price.
- professional
source-available
code can be inspected under stated terms
not when Source availability may forbid modification or commercial use.
- formal
openly licensed
permissions are granted by a named license
not when A license can be open for content but not software.
- literary
libre
freedom to use and modify needs a compact contrast with gratis
not when Libre is specialist terminology in English.
Said against
3- closed-source
- proprietary
- source-restricted
It naturally appears in
3- open-source software
The school adapted open-source software for low-vision readers.
- open-source license
An approved open-source license made reuse terms explicit.
- open-source project
The open-source project publishes its roadmap and review process.
Usage notes
Open-source requires an actual qualifying license; visible code, zero price, public development, and open standards are separate properties.