Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

From Free Open Source Software
Jump to navigationJump to search
(47 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
::"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.
:{| cellpadding="12" style="border: 1px solid darkgray"
 
|- border="0"
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, usually embedded in the software header, that is kind of a lawyer's version of the golden rule - it makes the software freely available to anyone to use, modify, and distribute as they wish, as long as they agree to make it freely available to others in turn to use, modify, and distribute as they wish.
|- align="justify"
| ''"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.  
|}


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, which 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.
<div align=justify>


FOSS can be supported by anyone, and is generally developed by meritocratic teams of developers, associations of companies, businesses that provide support and services, non-profit foundations, and research and academic institutions.  
Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called just Open Source or Free Software, is licensed to be free to use, modify, and distribute.&nbsp; Most FOSS licenses also include a kind of legal '''<span style="color:#ffd700">Golden Rule</span>''', requiring any changes - such as fixes and enhancements - be released under the same license.&nbsp;  This creates the trust in developers and users that generates large, sustainable communities that grow the software over time [http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/estimatinglinux.pdf].


FOSS is increasingly seen as the global standard and lowest-risk choice for operating systems to end-user applications.  FOSS 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:
Getting steadily better for [[History|more]] than a quarter century, FOSS provides more capability, security, and sustainability at much less cost, and is increasingly the first software option for individuals and organizations alike.&nbsp; More information can be found in the following sections.&nbsp;  (Thanks in advance for adding any info!)
</div>


{|  
{|  
|-valign="top"
|-valign="top"
|
|
:'''Information'''
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
|
&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Software'''
* [[Applications|Applications]] - <span style="color:#33cc66">hundreds!</span>
* [[System Software|System]] - <span style="color:#33cc66">dozens!</span>
* [[Games|Games]] - <span style="color:#33cc66">needs links!</span>
|
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
|
&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Collections'''
* [[Primary Sources|Primary Sources]]
* [[Secondary Sources|Secondary Sources]]
* [[Directories]]
|
&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;
|
'''Software'''
* [[Primary Sources]]
* [[Secondary Sources]]
* [[Directories]]
* '''[[System Software|System Software]]'''
* '''[[Applications|Application Software]]''' More than 50 categories!
|}
|}
Other info can be found at the following pages.


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.
:* [[FOSS Philosophy]] – ([[Философия_Свободного_и_открытого_программного_обеспечения|Russian translation]])
:* [http://www.theopensourceway.org/wiki/Main_Page The Open Source Way]
:* [[Style Guide]]


Except for this home page and a small number of other locked pages, you can edit any page by clicking the "Edit" tab. More information on formatting can be found [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page here]. To create a new page, first search for the desired name in the Search box on the left of the page, and if it doesn't already exist, then a link on the results page will enable you to "create new page".
<div align=justify>
 
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 discussed only on the [[Commercial Open Source Software|COSS]] page.
'''References:''' Other resources:
</div>
 
:* [[FOSS Philosophy]]
:* [[OpenSource.org Email]]
:* [[Stallman Email]]
:* [[Style Guide]]
:* [[Future Plans]]

Revision as of 23:43, 11 July 2015

"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.

Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called just Open Source or Free Software, is licensed to be free to use, modify, and distribute.  Most FOSS licenses also include a kind of legal Golden Rule, requiring any changes - such as fixes and enhancements - be released under the same license.  This creates the trust in developers and users that generates large, sustainable communities that grow the software over time [1].

Getting steadily better for more than a quarter century, FOSS provides more capability, security, and sustainability at much less cost, and is increasingly the first software option for individuals and organizations alike.  More information can be found in the following sections.  (Thanks in advance for adding any info!)

    

  Software

     

  Collections

   

  Information:

Other info 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 discussed only on the COSS page.