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.
| ''"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 is about Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS), Free Software, and sometimes just Open Source Software. 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>''', making it available at no cost to anyone to use, modify, and distribute as they wish, provided they agree in turn to make it available at no cost to others to use, modify, and distribute as they wish.
Free Open Source Software (FOSS), sometimes also called just Open Source or Free Software, is software that 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>''' that requires any changes, such as fixes and enhancements, to be released under the same license.&nbsp;  This creates the all important trust in developers and users that generates large, sustainable communities that continue to grow the software capability over time [https://www.linux.com/publications/estimating-total-development-cost-linux-foundations-collaborative-projects].


Many Free Open Source Software licenses also require that any modifications to the software - usually fixes and enhancements - must also be made available to others under the same license.  This is like software yeast, continually growing the capability.  These kinds of licenses are particularly good at generating the trust that leads to [http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/estimatinglinux.pdf large] and sustainable communities.  Most FOSS today is released under a license including this condition.
FOSS has been getting steadily better for [[History|several decades now]].&nbsp; It provides more capability, security, and sustainability than commercial software at much less cost, it runs much of the Internet, and is increasingly the first software option for individuals and organizations alike.&nbsp; More information can be found in the following sections.&nbsp; (Please [[Special:RequestAccount|sign up for an account]] and add more info!)
 
Free Open Source Software is increasingly seen as the global standard for operating systems to 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.   
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:&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Information'''
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;'''Software'''
* [[Applications|Applications]]
* [[System Software|System]]
* [[Games|Games]]
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;'''Collections'''
* [[Primary Sources|Primary Sources]]
* [[Secondary Sources|Secondary Sources]]
* [[Directories]]
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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:&nbsp;'''Information'''
:* [[History]]
:* [[History]]
:* [[Organizations]]
:* [[Organizations]]
:* [[Licenses]]
:* [[Licenses]]
:* [[People]]
:* [[People]]
:* [[Mailing Lists]]
:* [[News]]
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Software'''
* [[Primary Sources]]
* [[Secondary Sources]]
* [[Directories]]
* '''[[System Software|System Software]]'''
* '''[[Applications|Application Software]]'''
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Other info can be found at the following pages.


Additional site related information can be found at the following pages.
:* [[FOSS Philosophy]] ([[Философия_Свободного_и_открытого_программного_обеспечения|Russian translation]])
 
:* [http://www.theopensourceway.org/wiki/Main_Page The Open Source Way]
:* [[FOSS Philosophy]] - ([[Философия_Свободного_и_открытого_программного_обеспечения|Russian]])
:* [[OpenSource.org Email]]
:* [[Stallman Email]]
:* [[Style Guide]]
:* [[Style Guide]]
:* [[Future Plans]]


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Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) can contain Free Open Source Software 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.
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.
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Latest revision as of 11:50, 1 July 2019

 

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

FOSS has been getting steadily better for several decades now.  It provides more capability, security, and sustainability than commercial software at much less cost, it runs much of the Internet, and is increasingly the first software option for individuals and organizations alike.  More information can be found in the following sections.  (Please sign up for an account and add more 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.