Open source: Difference between revisions

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    (clarifying its relationship to other options)
     
    (the main "added restriction" people care about is required reintegration)
     
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    '''Open source''' refers to a [[software license]] where [[source code access]] is regulated by set of published principles.  There are many such licenses.
    '''Open source''' refers to a software [[licences|licence]] where source code access is regulated by set of published principles.  There are many such licenses.


    [[Free software]] is not considered open source because of the [[required reintegration]] clauses that "keep [[improvement]]s free" for all users.
    [[Free software]] is open source with '''added restrictions''' on the copyright, that cannot be revoked without violating the license under which you originally acquired the code.  The most notable of these added restrictions is the [[required reintegration]] clause.


    [[Consortium license]]s sometimes qualify as open source, sometimes not.
    [[Consortium license]]s may be open source or not or mixed so that "members" have [[source code access]] and others do not.


    A [[Green software license]] probably would not qualify, as it would restrict unpaid use to [[Green purposes]] and might forbid some uses entirely.
    A [[Green software license]] probably would not qualify, as it would restrict unpaid use to [[Green purposes]] and might forbid some uses entirely.


    [[Shared source]] is not open source, as it is controlled tightly by one vendor, e.g. [[Microsoft]].
    [[Shared source]] is not open source, as it is controlled tightly by one vendor, e.g. [[Microsoft]].

    Latest revision as of 21:22, 24 November 2003

    Open source refers to a software licence where source code access is regulated by set of published principles. There are many such licenses.

    Free software is open source with added restrictions on the copyright, that cannot be revoked without violating the license under which you originally acquired the code. The most notable of these added restrictions is the required reintegration clause.

    Consortium licenses may be open source or not or mixed so that "members" have source code access and others do not.

    A Green software license probably would not qualify, as it would restrict unpaid use to Green purposes and might forbid some uses entirely.

    Shared source is not open source, as it is controlled tightly by one vendor, e.g. Microsoft.