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| Free and open-source software | |
|---|---|
| Name | Free and open-source software |
| Alt | FOSS logo |
| Developer | Richard Stallman, Linus Torvalds, Eric S. Raymond |
| Released | 1983 |
| Latest | ongoing |
| Platform | Unix, Linux, Windows, macOS |
| License | GNU General Public License, MIT License, Apache License |
Free and open-source software is software distributed with permissions that allow users to run, study, modify, and share the software's source code. It emerged from movements and institutions advocating for software freedom and collaborative development, influencing projects, corporations, and governments worldwide.
The concept synthesizes principles advocated by Richard Stallman, codified through the Free Software Foundation and articulated alongside pragmatic arguments from figures like Linus Torvalds and Eric S. Raymond. Definitions often reference the GNU General Public License, the Open Source Initiative, and documents from organizations such as the Free Software Foundation Europe and Software Freedom Conservancy. Core principles include access to source, rights to modify and redistribute, and community-driven governance reflected in projects hosted on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and SourceForge.
Origins trace to early computing at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bell Labs, and projects like Unix and BSD. Milestones include the founding of the Free Software Foundation by Richard Stallman, the launch of the GNU Project, the release of the Linux kernel by Linus Torvalds, and the formation of the Open Source Initiative by figures including Bruce Perens and Eric S. Raymond. Significant events include legal disputes such as USENET debates and litigation involving entities like AT&T, IBM, and SCO Group. Influential communities and conferences include Debian Project, Red Hat Summit, FOSDEM, and OSCON.
Licensing evolved through documents like the GNU General Public License, the Academic Free License, the MIT License, the BSD License, and the Apache License. Legal debates have involved corporations such as Microsoft, Google, Oracle Corporation, and Apple Inc. Court cases and settlement contexts include disputes involving SCO Group and Novell, and copyright frameworks shaped by laws such as the Berne Convention and national statutes in jurisdictions like United States and European Union. Organizations like the Software Freedom Law Center and entities such as Creative Commons intersect with licensing practice.
Development models range from meritocratic projects exemplified by Debian Project and Linux kernel to corporate-sponsored efforts at Red Hat, Canonical, and SUSE. Collaboration occurs on hosting services including GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket; communication happens via channels such as IRC, Mailing list, and events like Hackathons at venues like Mozilla Festival and LinuxCon. Community governance structures include foundations like the Apache Software Foundation, the Eclipse Foundation, and the Linux Foundation, and contributor roles mirror practices at projects like Mozilla Firefox, LibreOffice, and Kubernetes.
Business models include support and services pursued by Red Hat, dual-licensing strategies used by MySQL AB and MongoDB, Inc., open-core arrangements deployed by companies such as Elastic NV and Databricks, and platform offerings by Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure. Revenue streams derive from subscriptions, consulting, managed services, and hosted offerings as practiced by firms including Canonical Ltd., SUSE, Cloudera, and HashiCorp. Public sector adoption by entities like the European Commission, United Nations, and municipal projects in Barcelona and Munich illustrate economic impacts.
Widespread use appears in server infrastructure (stacks involving Linux kernel, Apache HTTP Server, Nginx), desktop environments such as GNOME and KDE, and ecosystems including Android and Chromium. Academic institutions like Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley leverage open-source tools in research from projects like TensorFlow to SciPy. Major corporations—including IBM, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft—contribute to and rely on open projects such as Kubernetes, React, and OpenStack. National initiatives in countries like Brazil, India, and Germany have promoted adoption through procurement and policy.
Critiques address sustainability and funding models debated in forums involving Open Source Initiative and critics such as Richard Stallman, tensions over contributor license agreements with corporations like Microsoft and Apple Inc., and security concerns highlighted by incidents tied to supply chain events involving packages on npm and PyPI. Controversies include governance disputes within projects like Debian and OpenSSL, trademark conflicts involving Linux and Android, and ethical debates around corporate influence in foundations such as the Linux Foundation and Apache Software Foundation.
Category:Software