Note: Many topics at this site are reduced versions of the text in "The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications." Search results will not be as extensive as a search of the book's CD-ROM.

UNIX and Linux are the best examples of open source software, with Linux being the most successful in terms of community involvement. Linux is an operating system in which the source code is freely available and where development is done for the community of users. See "Linux."

According to "The Open Source Definition" at Opensource.org, open source software may be freely distributed and must comply with the following criteria:

• The license should not prevent some party from selling the software as part of a bundle of software from different sources. No royalties need be paid.


• Source code must be included.


• License must allow modifications and derived works.


• An author's original code can be protected by allowing patch files that modify the program at build time.


• The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.


• The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program is redistributed without the need for additional licenses.


• The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a particular software distribution.


• The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software.

See "Linux" for additional links related to free software.

Copyright (c) 2001 Tom Sheldon and Big Sur Multimedia.
All rights reserved under Pan American and International copyright conventions.