Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is available in source code form: the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software.

Open source software is very often developed in a public, collaborative manner. Open-source software is the most prominent example of open-source development and often compared to (technically defined) user-generated content or (legally defined) open content movements.

A report by the Standish Group states that adoption of open-source software models has resulted in savings of about $60 billion per year to consumers.


Samples of Open source Software


Browsers

  • FireFox
  • Opera

Office Productivity

  • Libre Office
  • Open Office
  • KOffice
  • GNOME Office

E-Mail Client

Security

Web Servers



"The guy who knows about computers is the last person you want to have creating documentation for people who don't understand computers."

- Adam Osborne