Open Source and Free. What they really mean?
U r new 2 the world of Open Source
...a hearty Welcome to u.
Open Source and Free. What they really mean?
Bet this was ur question when u heard about "Open Source". In fact, Open Source means publishing the Source code of the program. [Source code r the many lines of codes which make the software or they are simply the program lines.] And Free" means something which is completely free like air, water, sky, fire, and ...etc.
Thus, a freely available software always has a source code(because how could a software be made without a source code), but the makers of software might not have published the source code. This type of software is called "Free Software". E.g. Adobe Flash Player [ http://si9.org/122 ].
Similarly, if a software is free and the makers of software have published its source code, the type of software is called "Free and Open Source Software".
And, if the software if freely available, but the makers of software charge for the source code i.e. they take money to give out the source code of the software to a particular company or individual; then the type of software is called "Free and Closed Source Software".
