Let’s get to the
literal meaning first.
Source code is a myriad
of lines of code that make the software of concern. Open source software has
its source code available for viewing, copying, editing, and even distributing.
Common such software includes Mozilla Firefox (internet browser), Ubuntu (Operating
System for PC), etc.
Wait! It gets more
interesting.
Open source software
might sound more like “free beer”, but actually “free speech” is more like it.
It’s not (just) about
getting software for free, but having a full freedom to do anything with the
software. You can use the software to learn codes, to develop a new one for
yourself, or help others do the same.
But it doesn’t stop
here.
Open source software is
a social movement. It’s a worldwide community of free-willed enthusiasts
contributing for what they believe in.
Here’s how this works.
An Open source software
is released. Bugs are found. The problem is solved by whoever in the community
can. (Simple mathematics says – larger the community, greater are the chances
for the bug to be fixed.) When customers are not satisfied with the product,
many more softwares are available to choose freely from. No loss of money!
Power to the end user is restored.
In the anti-universe:
A big name hires some
geniuses for a job. Codes are locked behind more obscure codes. User pays to
use the software. User pays more solve the problem caused by resident bug/s.
Switching to another software would mean a loss of money invested before.
Monopolies grow. End user loses power.
In case you are
wondering, YOU are the end user.
What does it have in
store for us Nepalis?
Most of us, at one
point of time or another, have used pirated software because we had no other
option available then. Open source software movement can be more useful to us
than most countries of the world.
Maybe it’s about time
we switch to GIMP instead of running a pirated copy of Adobe Photoshop.
On an ending note, as
we all know – Sharing is caring.
P.S. Want to add something to
this post? Or, share a different point of view? You are most welcome.
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