Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

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::"Because open source software features open code, more programmers are able to view the code, create new functionality, and fix bugs. This follows the same natural way that science has developed over time." – [http://www.linux.com/feature/119429 Taoism of Open Source]; Chen Nan Yang; September 29, 2007.
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| ''"Because open source software features open code, more programmers are able to view the code, create new functionality, and fix bugs. This follows the same natural way that science has developed over time."''
– [http://www.linux.com/feature/119429 Taoism of Open Source]; Chen Nan Yang; September 29, 2007.
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This site provides information about Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called Free/Libre Open Source Software ([[FLOSS|F/LOSS]]), [[Free Software]], and sometimes just [[Open Source Initiative|Open Source]].  FOSS is released under a legal license that is kind of an Intellectual Property lawyer's version of the '''<span style="color:#ffd700">golden rule</span>''' - it makes the software freely available to anyone to use, modify, and distribute as they wish, as long as they agree in turn to make it freely available to others to use, modify, and distribute as they wish.


In addition, many FOSS licenses require that any changes to the software - usually fixes and enhancements - must also be made freely available to others under the same license.  This is like software yeast, it continually grows the capability.  These self-reinforcing kinds of licenses are particularly good at generating the trust that leads to [http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/estimatinglinux.php large] and sustainable communities, and most FOSS today is released under a license including this principle as well.
This Wiki is about Free Open Source Software (FOSS), sometimes called just Free Software or Open Source.&nbsp; All FOSS licenses require the software must always remain freely available to use, modify, and distribute.&nbsp;  Most licenses also include a nice legal '''<span style="color:#ffd700">Golden Rule</span>''', requiring that any modifications - such as fixes and enhancements - must be made available under the same license.&nbsp; This condition generates the trust that enables large and sustainable [http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/estimatinglinux.pdf communities] that continually grow the software in value over time.


FOSS is increasingly seen as the global standard and lowest-risk choice for operating systems to end-user applicationsFOSS helps individuals and organizations reduce cost, increase use, improve standards compliance, enhance security, and avoid vendor lock-in.  More information can be found in the following sections.
FOSS is increasingly the standard for system to application software.&nbsp; It reduces costs, avoids lock-in, eases use, provides open security, and is the best long-term investment.&nbsp; More info is provided in the following sections.
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{|  
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:<u>Information</u>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
|
&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Software'''
* <span style="color:#008800">[[Applications|Applications]]</span>
* <span style="color:#008800">[[System Software|System]]</span>
* <span style="color:#008800">[[Cloud Computing|Cloud]]</span>
* <span style="color:#008800">[[Games|Games]]</span>
|
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Collections'''
* [[Primary Sources|Primary ]]
* [[Secondary Sources|Secondary ]]
* [[Directories]]
|
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
|
:&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Information'''
:* [[History]]
:* [[History]]
:* [[Organizations]]
:* [[Organizations]]
:* [[Licenses]]
:* [[Licenses]]
:* [[People]]
:* [[People]]
:* [[Mailing Lists]]
:* [[Mailing Lists|Lists]]
:* [[News]]
:* [[News]]
|
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
|
<u>Software</u>
* [[Primary Sources]]
* [[Secondary Sources]]
* [[Directories]]
* '''[[System Software|System Software]]'''
* '''[[Applications|Application Software]]'''
|}
|}


The following links provide site related information.
Additional information can be found at the following pages.


:* [[FOSS Philosophy]]
:* [[FOSS Philosophy]] [[Философия_Свободного_и_открытого_программного_обеспечения|Russian translation]]
:* [[OpenSource.org Email]]
:* [http://www.theopensourceway.org/wiki/Main_Page The Open Source Way]
:* [[Stallman Email]]
:* [[Style Guide]]
:* [[Style Guide]]
:* [[Future Plans]]


Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) can contain FOSS components, however limits availability of some functionality to closed proprietary software, and therefore is described on this site only on the [[Commercial Open Source Software|COSS]] page.
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Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) can contain Free Open Source Software components, however limits availability of key functionality to closed proprietary software, and therefore is described on this site only on the [[Commercial Open Source Software|COSS]] page.
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Revision as of 22:29, 29 September 2014

"Because open source software features open code, more programmers are able to view the code, create new functionality, and fix bugs. This follows the same natural way that science has developed over time."

Taoism of Open Source; Chen Nan Yang; September 29, 2007.


This Wiki is about Free Open Source Software (FOSS), sometimes called just Free Software or Open Source.  All FOSS licenses require the software must always remain freely available to use, modify, and distribute.  Most licenses also include a nice legal Golden Rule, requiring that any modifications - such as fixes and enhancements - must be made available under the same license.  This condition generates the trust that enables large and sustainable communities that continually grow the software in value over time.

FOSS is increasingly the standard for system to application software.  It reduces costs, avoids lock-in, eases use, provides open security, and is the best long-term investment.  More info is provided in the following sections.

        

  Software

        

  Collections

        

  Information

Additional information can be found at the following pages.

Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) can contain Free Open Source Software components, however limits availability of key functionality to closed proprietary software, and therefore is described on this site only on the COSS page.