About Open Source Software

Open source software is software that is developed collaboratively by developers across the globe. The software itself is available at little or no cost. The source code (the human-readable version of the software) is distributed with the executable form, giving users of the software the freedom to modify, adapt and improve the software to meet their needs.

Open source software is the alternative and biggest challenger to closed source or proprietary software. It generally costs the user nothing, can be distributed freely to anyone and exists as a result of the combined efforts of computer programmers, users and software vendors from around the world that share their intellectual property freely, believe software should cost nothing and should enrich the lives of the users.

"Contrary to popular belief, open source software is not only the domain of technically and highly skilled users, since it makes a difference in the lives of everyday people from all walks of life," says South African Internet billionaire Mark Shuttleworth.

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Last Updated: 23 March 2009

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