What Does Open Source Mean?
In the most basic terms, open-source software is flexible software. It is editable, meaning anyone can access and change the programming code, but this isn't the only thing that defines open source.
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Distribution and Costs
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One of the core values of open-source software is that it is distributed free. You may not be allowed to sell or share licensed software, but you're free to distribute open-source software as you like.
Source Code
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All open-source software must be distributed with its source code. If the software doesn't come included with the code, the manufacturer must make the code readily and easily available for download. The source code should be available in a common programming code and cannot be deliberately obfuscated.
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Discrimination
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In order for a program to be licensed as open-source, it must not have a license that discriminates against any persons or groups. Similarly, the license cannot discriminate based on end use or field.
Open Source Standards
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There are five criteria that must be satisfied in order for open-source software to meet the standards of the Open Source Initiative: there can be no intentional secrets in the code or license, the software must be freely and publicly available, the software must have (if applicable) royalty-free patents, the software must not include a license agreement that is required to execute the software, and the software cannot rely on other software that fails to meet open-source standards.
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