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.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
publicly developed
Fits when development happens in visible community channels
Careful Public development does not establish license rights.
warm
community-built
Fits when distributed contribution is being celebrated
Careful Community-built software can still be proprietary.
professional
free software
Fits when user freedoms are the philosophical and legal focus
Careful Free refers to liberty, not necessarily price.
professional
source-available
Fits when code can be inspected under stated terms
Careful Source availability may forbid modification or commercial use.
formal
openly licensed
Fits when permissions are granted by a named license
Careful A license can be open for content but not software.
literary
libre
Fits when freedom to use and modify needs a compact contrast with gratis
Careful Libre is specialist terminology in English.
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.
Keep in mind
Open-source requires an actual qualifying license; visible code, zero price, public development, and open standards are separate properties.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Qwertygiy, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated
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